The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it.

- Wayne Gretzky

My kids are no different than anyone else's - they tend to disagree with everything I say!

- Wayne Gretzky

Listen, everything I have in my life is because of the NHL and because of hockey, and I love the game and I loved every minute of being a player, I loved coaching, I loved being involved in the NHL.

- Wayne Gretzky

The biggest difference between L.A. and Edmonton was that instead of people looking at me I was looking at them.

- Wayne Gretzky

Most people marry their mother. I married my father.

- Wayne Gretzky

I'm very proud of our NHL players. I think they all handle themselves extremely well and they all work really hard.

- Wayne Gretzky

When I was 5 and playing against 11-year-olds, who were bigger, stronger, faster, I just had to figure out a way to play with them.

- Wayne Gretzky

I just like to keep my money in the bank; I'm not a big risk-taker. I don't know anything about the stock market... I stay away from things I don't know anything about.

- Wayne Gretzky

I think that from the time you start playing sports as a child you see that your responsibility to your team is to play the best that you can play as an individual... and yet, not take anything away from being part of a team.

- Wayne Gretzky

And people who know me would tell you that away from hockey I'm really not that competitive.

- Wayne Gretzky

I don't like my hockey sticks touching other sticks, and I don't like them crossing one another, and I kind of have them hidden in the corner. I put baby powder on the ends. I think it's essentially a matter of taking care of what takes care of you.

- Wayne Gretzky

It's an honour and a thrill and a privilege just to play in the NHL.

- Wayne Gretzky

Growing up, I was always the small guy.

- Wayne Gretzky

I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.

- Wayne Gretzky

I knew at a young age, whether I was playing baseball or hockey or lacrosse, that my teammates were counting on me, whether it be to strike the last batter out in a baseball game or score a big goal in a hockey game.

- Wayne Gretzky

The only way a kid is going to practice is if it's total fun for him... and it was for me.

- Wayne Gretzky

I wasn't naturally gifted in terms of size and speed; everything I did in hockey I worked for, and that's the way I'll be as a coach.

- Wayne Gretzky

Hockey is a unique sport in the sense that you need each and every guy helping each other and pulling in the same direction to be successful.

- Wayne Gretzky

Look at guys like Larry Bird and George Brett and John McEnroe; that's what they did in their careers. They all wanted to be the guy under the microscope late in the game or late in the match. So you just take on that know-how that that's part of your responsibility, and you learn that's what makes it exciting. That's what makes it fun!

- Wayne Gretzky

I couldn't beat people with my strength; I don't have a hard shot; I'm not the quickest skater in the league. My eyes and my mind have to do most of the work.

- Wayne Gretzky