Strive for excellence in your calling, but as a subsidiary…
“Strive for excellence in your calling, but as a subsidiary to this: Do not fail to enrich your whole capital as man. To be a giant, and not a dwarf in your profession, you must always be growing. The man that has ceased to go up intellectually has begun to go down.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Excellence requires continual growth; stagnation leads to decline in both intellect and professional stature.
In simple terms: Keep improving, or you fall behind.
Never stop learning and expanding your abilities.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- career development
- academic pursuits
- skill building
- leadership training
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What habits keep you growing?
- How do you measure intellectual progress?
Growth alone isn’t enough without purpose and balance.