In addition to his sublime play on the diamond, the legendary Yogi Berra was known for his memorable quips.

His quirky sayings helped sculpt his lovable image and made him a celebrity who transcended baseball, even though he sometimes denied having said some of the phrases attributed to him, once saying, "I really didn't say everything I said."

Whether or not he said them verbatim, one thing is certain: Berra's quotes have entered the American lexicon like few athletes before him and they helped make him one of the most beloved figures of his time.

Here is a sampling of some of the most famous sayings that have been attributed to the Yankees icon.

? Perhaps his most famous of all: "It ain't over 'til it's over."

? "Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical."

? On posterity: "I always thought that record would stand until it was broken."

? "You can observe a lot by watching."

? "If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be."

? About a St. Louis restaurant: "No one goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

? About the effect of the sun in left field in the old Yankee Stadium during late-season games: "It gets late early out there."

? About Bill Dickey: "He learned me all his experience."

? "If people don't want to come to the ballpark, how are you going to stop them?"

? "We made too many wrong mistakes."

? "Pie a la mode, with ice cream."

? "I wish I had an answer to that, because I'm tired of answering that question."

? "You tell the stupidest questions."

? "Never answer an anonymous letter."

? On the great Sandy Koufax: "I can see how he won 25 games. What I don't understand is how he lost five."

? On lining up for a Spring Training drill: "Pair 'em up in threes."

? On the 1973 Mets: "We were overwhelming underdogs."

? The recording heard on the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center's phone: "This message won't be over 'til it's done."

? "In baseball, you don't know nothing."

? On being honored in his hometown of St. Louis during his rookie season: "I want to thank everybody for making this day necessary."

? "The future ain't what it used to be."

? "Why buy good luggage? You only use it when you travel."

? On pregame preparation: "I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4."

? On advising a young player trying to emulate the great Frank Robinson's swing: "If you can't imitate him, don't copy him."

? "I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did."

? "All pitchers are liars or crybabies."

? On his hitting approach: "I can't think and hit at the same time."

? "So I'm ugly. I never saw anyone hit with his face."

? "He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious."

? "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

? On economics: "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore."

? "Always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise, they won't come to yours."

? And last but certainly not least: "It's deja vu all over again."