This quote by Henry David Thoreau encourages us to pursue more than just being excellent. It suggests that we ought to make every effort to be great for something, to have a purpose and to make a distinction. It is a tip that we should not simply be content with being good, but that we should strive to use our goodness to make a favorable effect on the world. It is a call to action, to use our goodness to make a distinction in the lives of others. It is a tip that we must not simply be content with being excellent, but that we must make every effort to utilize our goodness to make a positive influence on the world. It is a reminder that our goodness ought to be used to help others and to make a distinction on the planet. It is a pointer that we need to strive to be helpful for something, to have a function and to make a difference.