---
title: "2 Highest Standards Quotes By John W. Gardner"
description: "2 Highest Standards quotes by John W. Gardner. Plus more from John W. Gardner and more Highest Standards sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/john-w-gardner-7687_amiable_the-idea-for-which-this-nation-stands-wi_1123757.jpg"
---

> [The idea for which this nation stands will not survive if the highest goal free man can set themselves is an amiable mediocrity. Excellence implies striving for the highest standards in every phase of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-idea-for-which-this-nation-stands-will-not-survive-if-the-highest/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/john-w-gardner-7687_amiable_the-idea-for-which-this-nation-stands-wi_1123757.jpg)

> [Excellence implies striving for the highest standards in every phase of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/excellence-implies-striving-for-the-highest-standards-in-every-phase/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/john-w-gardner-7687_amiable_excellence-implies-striving-for-the-high_3093910.jpg)

## More by John W. Gardner

> [“We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/we-are-continually-faced-with-a-series-of-great-opportunities/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [One man interacting creatively with others can move the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/one-man-interacting-creatively-with-others-can-move-the-world/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [To sensible men, every day is a day of reckoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/to-sensible-men-every-day-is-a-day-of-reckoning/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/all-excellence-involves-discipline-and-tenacity-of-purpose/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [Tax reduction has an almost irresistible appeal to the politician, and it is no doubt also gratifying to the citizen. It means more dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/tax-reduction-has-an-almost-irresistible-appeal-to-the-politician-and/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [We get richer and richer in filthier and filthier communities until we reach a final state of affluent misery - crocus on a garbage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/we-get-richer-and-richer-in-filthier-and-filthier-communities-until/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [At home we have lost the capacity to see what is before us. Travel shakes us out of our apathy, and we regain an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/at-home-we-have-lost-the-capacity-to-see-what-is-before-us-travel/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Few have excellence thrust upon them ... They achieve it. They do not achieve it unwittingly by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/some-people-have-greatness-thrust-upon-them-few-have-excellence/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders and leaders one can hear in the next county.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/leaders-come-in-many-forms-with-many-styles-and-diverse-qualities/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursuing his education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-ultimate-goal-of-the-educational-system-is-to-shift-to-the/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [The first and last task of aleader is to keep hope alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-first-and-last-task-of-aleader-is-to-keep-hope-alive/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [An excellent plumber is infinitely more admirable than an incompetent philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/an-excellent-plumber-is-infinitely-more-admirable-than-an-incompetent/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling. If you want to keep on learning, you must keep on risking failure-all your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/there-is-no-learning-without-some-difficulty-and-fumbling-if-you-want/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [All of us celebrate our values in our behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/all-of-us-celebrate-our-values-in-our-behavior/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [Some people seem to believe that for each problem there is a solution readily available - a solution that can be promptly achieved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/some-people-seem-to-believe-that-for-each-problem-there-is-a-solution/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

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