"Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them"
- John W. Gardner
About this Quote
This quote by John W. Gardner speaks to the idea that greatness is often thrust upon people, whether they are ready for it or not. It implies that greatness is something that is given to people, rather than something that is earned. However, the quote also suggests that excellence is something that is much harder to come by. It implies that excellence is something that is earned through hard work and dedication, rather than something that is simply given to someone. This quote encourages people to strive for excellence, rather than simply settling for greatness. It suggests that excellence is something that is worth striving for, and that it is something that is achievable through hard work and dedication. Ultimately, this quote encourages people to strive for excellence, rather than simply settling for greatness.
This quote is written / told by John W. Gardner between October 8, 1912 and February 16, 2002. He was a famous Educator from USA.
The author also have 26 other quotes.
"The opportunity to create a small world between two pieces of cardboard, where time exists yet stands still, where people talk and I tell them what to say, is exciting and rewarding"
"We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people - history has made us all South Africans"
"Creating the kind of connections between people that lead to collective civic action, political expression, community dialogue, shared cultural experiences"
"Oh, the miraculous energy that flows between two people who care enough to get beyond surfaces and games, who are willing to take the risks of being totally open, of listening, of responding with the whole heart. How much we can do for each other"
"If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?"
"The world is full of abundance and opportunity, but far too many people come to the fountain of life with a sieve instead of a tank car... a teaspoon instead of a steam shovel. They expect little and as a result they get little"