Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

— Lou Holtz

Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger.

— Lou Holtz

At age nine, I got a paper route. Sixty-six papers had to be delivered to sixty-six families every day. I also had to collect thirty cents a week from each customer. I owed the paper twenty cents per customer per week, and got to keep the rest. When I didn't collect, the balance came out of my profit. My average income was six dollars a week.

— Lou Holtz

At home, I have a copy of the April 21, 1986, issue of 'Sports Illustrated.' I'm on the cover with the blurb, 'Can Lou Do It?' I'd just arrived at Notre Dame, and with spring football underway, I was the focal point of that week's coverage.

— Lou Holtz

Do right. Do your best. Treat others as you want to be treated.

— Lou Holtz

I can't believe that God put us on this earth to be ordinary.

— Lou Holtz

I do know this: God does answer your prayers, but it's not always in the way you expect. God knows what's best for us, though, so there's no need to worry when things don't go how we originally wanted them to go.

— Lou Holtz

I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.

— Lou Holtz

If you don't make a total commitment to whatever you're doing then you start looking to bail out the first time the boat starts leaking. It's tough enough getting that boat to shore with everybody rowing let alone when a guy stands up and starts putting his life jacket on.

— Lou Holtz

If you're bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things, you don't have enough goals.

— Lou Holtz