Men have various subjects in which they may excel, or at least would be thought to excel, and though they love to hear justice done to them where they know they excel, yet they are most and best flattered upon those points where they wish to excel and yet are doubtful whether they do or not.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
If you want enemies, excel others; if you want friends, let others excel you.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time.
—Unknown
Remember that the most difficult tasks are consummated, not by a single explosive burst of energy or effort, but by the constant daily application of the best you have within you.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
No matter how small and unimportant what we are doing may seem, if we do it well, it may soon become the step that will lead us to better things.
—Channing Pollock (1880–1946) American Playwright, Critic
Do it, fix it, try it.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author
The best we can do is size up the chances, calculate the risks involved, estimate our ability to deal with them, and then make our plans with confidence.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.
—Sun Tzu (fl.c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
The man who comes up with a means for doing or producing almost anything better, faster or more economically has his future and his fortune at his fingertips.
—J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) American Art Collector, Philanthropist, Businessperson
To the Master’s honor all must turn, each in its track, without a sound, forever tracing Newton’s ground.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Let nothing be done in your life, which will cause you fear if it becomes known to your neighbor.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
The noblest search is the search for excellence.
—Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–73) American Head of State, Political leader
Nothing is such an obstacle to the production of excellence as the power of producing what is good with ease and rapidity.
—John Aikin (1747–1822) British Doctor, Writer
In seasons of tumult and discord bad men have most power; mental and moral excellence require peace and quietness.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
I always remember an epitaph which is in the cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. It says: “Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damnedest.” I think that is the greatest epitaph a man can have.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
It is the mark of an instructed mind to rest satisfied with the degree of precision which the nature of the subject admits and not to seek exactness when only an approximation of the truth is possible.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
One of the great undiscovered joys of life comes from doing everything one attempts to the best of one’s ability. There is a special sense of satisfaction, a pride in surveying such a work, a work which is rounded, full, exact, complete in its parts, which the superficial person who leaves his or her work in a slovenly, slipshod, half-finished condition, can never know. It is this conscientious completeness which turns any work into art. The smallest task, well done, becomes a miracle of achievement.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The convent, which belongs to the West as it does to the East, to antiquity as it does to the present time, to Buddhism and Muhammadanism as it does to Christianity, is one of the optical devices whereby man gains a glimpse of infinity.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Wealth does not bring excellence, but that wealth comes from excellence.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.
—Dianne Feinstein (1933–2023) American Politician, Long-serving U.S. Senator
If you do things well, do them better. Be daring, be first, be different, be just.
—Anita Roddick (1942–2007) English Businessperson, Activist, Environmentalist
I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that’s how I operate my life.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
I can do small things in a great way.
—James Freeman Clarke (1810–88) American Clergyman, Author
Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.
—Unknown
Make it a life-rule to give your best to whatever passes through your hands. Stamp it with your manhood. Let superiority be your trademark…
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Writer, Aviator
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