What distinguished Lombardi the most from other coaches was his knack for oratory. His speeches were simple, forceful, and urgent—rich with emotional overtones and war analogies. At a time when sportswriters had a monopoly on coverage and a weakness for poetry, they shared his quotes in their columns, building a spectacular catalog of inspirational sayings such as “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing” and “Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection we can catch excellence” and “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”
