There is nothing quite so useless, as doing with great efficiency, something that should not be done at all.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
The art of putting into play mediocre qualities often begets more reputation than is achieved by true merit.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
There are certain things in which mediocrity is intolerable: poetry, music, painting, public eloquence. What torture it is to hear a frigid speech being pompously declaimed, or second-rate verse spoken with all a bad poet’s bombast!
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Persevering mediocrity is much more respectable, and unspeakably more useful, than talented inconstancy.
—James Hamilton (1814–67) Scottish Protestant Minister
Take back the beauty and wit you bestow upon me; leave me my own mediocrity of agreeableness and genius, but leave me also my sincerity, my constancy, and my plain dealing; ’tis all I have to recommend me to the esteem either of others or myself.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
Little things affect little minds.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
Mediocrity requires aloofness to preserve its dignity.
—Charles G. Dawes (1865–1951) American Diplomat, Politician
It’s uncomfortable to challenge the status quo.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
‘Good enough’ stopped being good enough a long time ago. so why not be great?
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Successful people are the ones who are breaking the rules.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
There is a mean in everything.—Even virtue itself hath its stated limits, which, not being strictly observed, it ceases to be virtue.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
The reason they want you to fit in… is that once you do, then they can ignore you.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Once you free yourself from the need for perfect acceptance, it’s a lot easier to launch work that matters.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
They are good furniture pictures, unworthy of praise, and undeserving of blame.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
It is mediocrity which makes laws and sets mantraps and spring-guns in the realm of free song, saying thus far shalt thou go and no further.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
In our desire to please everyone, it’s very easy to end up being invisible or mediocre.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed with them.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Minds of moderate caliber ordinarily condemn everything which is beyond their range.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.
—Max Beerbohm (1872–1956) British Essayist, Caricaturist, Novelist
The general tendency of things throughout the world is to render mediocrity the ascendant power among mankind.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
You can raise the bar or you can wait for others to raise it, but it’s getting raised regardless.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
The highest order of mind is accused of folly, as well as the lowest. Nothing is thoroughly approved but mediocrity. The majority has established this, and it fixes its fangs on whatever gets beyond it either way.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
If you make a difference, people will gravitate to you. They want to engage, to interact and to get you more involved.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Averageness is a quality we must put up with. Men march toward civilization in column formation, and by the time the van has learned to admire the masters the rear is drawing reluctantly away from the totem pole.
—Frank Moore Colby (1865–1925) American Encyclopedia Editor, Essayist
It’s uncomfortable to resist the urge to settle.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Mediocrity can talk; but it is for genius to observe.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The status quo is leaving the building, and quickly.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
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