When we reach for excellence, we honor both our gifts and our
work. Author Pearl S. Buck believed deeply in this
connection, writing that “The secret of joy in work is
contained
in one word—excellence. To know
how
to do something well
is to enjoy it.” These quotes remind us that excellence is less about being perfect,
and more about bringing our whole heart to what we do.
One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent. ~ Epictetus
Excellence is the eternal quest. We achieve it by living up to our highest intellectual standards and our finest moral intuitions. In seeking excellence, take life seriously, but never yourself! ~ Arthur Schlesinger Jr.
Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal, a commitment to excellence, that will enable you to attain the success you seek. ~ Mario Andretti
The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. ~ Vince Lombardi
There are no speed limits on the road to excellence. ~ David W. Johnson
Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. ~ José Ortega y Gasset
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. ~ Aristotle
The truth of an upright man must be accepted on his own terms. Moreover, since natures vary, we must agree that all the beauties of human excellence may be fostered by faiths that we do not share. ~ Victor Hugo
Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you do repeatedly. ~ Shaquille O’Neal
Work itself is the reward. If I choose challenging work it will pay me back with interest. At least I’ll be interested, even if nobody else is. And this attempt for excellence is what sustains the most well-lived and satisfying, successful lives. ~ Meryl Streep
Strive for excellence, not perfection. ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Whoever I am, or whatever I am doing, some kind of excellence is within my reach. ~ John W. Gardner