"If you fear making anyone mad, then you ultimately probe for the lowest common denominator of human achievement"

This quote by Jimmy Carter is a suggestion that if we are too scared of making someone mad, we will not reach our complete capacity. He is suggesting that if we are too interested in pleasing everybody, we will not strive for achievement. Instead, we will settle for mediocrity and the most affordable common measure of human achievement. This is not to say that we ought to not be considerate of others, but rather that we should not be afraid to take threats and challenge ourselves. We must make every effort to reach our highest capacity and not be afraid to make mistakes. We ought to be confident in our abilities and not hesitate to take risks. We ought to be willing to take threats and challenge ourselves, even if it means making someone mad. By doing so, we can reach our greatest capacity and accomplish success.