LOUIS ZAMPERINI

That's one thing you learn in sports. You don't give up; you fight to the finish.

I ended up in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific, operating out of Ayuka field in Hawaii.

When you're on a raft, you pray like in a foxhole.

'Unbroken' was published as a help to society.

Every soldier should learn survival on land, sea, and in the air.

Hate is self-destructive. If you hate somebody, you're not hurting the person you hate. You're hurting yourself. And that's a healing. Actually, it's a real healing, forgiveness.

All I did was pray to God, every day. In prison camp, the main prayer was, 'Get me home alive, God, and I'll seek you and serve you.' I came home, got wrapped up in the celebration, and forgot about the hundreds of promises I'd made to God.

I've got to say that is - the highest emotion of the human experience is going down in a plane knowing your going to die!

I was a rotten kid. My excitement came from seeing what I could get away with.

If you hate somebody, it's like a boomerang that misses its target and comes back and hits you in the head. The one who hates is the one who hurts.

I couldn't speak English. I'm in kindergarten, and the only reason I got through to first grade is because I cheated.

I think the hardest thing in life is to forgive. Hate is self destructive. If you hate somebody, you're not hurting the person you hate, you're hurting yourself. It's a healing, actually, it's a real healing...forgiveness.

God has given me so much. He expects so much out of me.

I'd made it this far and refused to give up because all my life I had always finished the race.

Even at my age, I'm trying to improve. Never give up, no matter what. Even if you get last place - finish.

I've always been called Lucky Louie. It's no mystery why.

Never give up, no matter what.

You have to reach deep within yourself to see if you are willing to make the sacrifices.

God knew my needs and took care accordingly.

Self-esteem can’t win you a race if you’re not in shape.

Pain is that last quarter of a mile. You feel it, but when you’re through racing, your whole body just feels elated. So the pain is worth it.

Yet a part of you still believes you can fight and survive no matter what your mind knows. It's not so strange. Where there's still life, there's still hope. What happens is up to God.

To persevere, I think, is important for everybody. Don't give up, don't give in. There's always an answer to everything.

If I can take it, I can make it.

The great commandment is that we preach the gospel to every creature, but neither God nor the Bible says anything about forcing it down people's throats.