“Here we begin frank speculation. And since we are speculating, we'll use those powerful pseudo-laws, the Principles of Mediocrity and Minimal Assumption.” — Vernor Vinge Copy Share Image
One mustn't mistake bling for excellence, just as one mustn't mistake quiet for mediocre. — Kevin McCloud Copy Share Image
You can raise the bar or you can wait for others to raise it, but it's getting raised regardless. — Seth Godin Copy Share Image
Do you know what keeps most people average? They complain about the noise when opportunity comes knocking. — Tsepiso Makhubedu Copy Share Image
Only ambitious nonentities and hearty mediocrities exhibit their rough drafts. It's like passing around samples of sputum. — Vladimir Nabokov Copy Share Image
The way that I am now, I don't want to accept mediocrity. I don't want to accept the easy road. — Joe Nichols Copy Share Image
The mediocrity with which Africa has been ruled is responsible for its underdevelopment. — Raila Odinga Copy Share Image
They say misery loves company, but so does mediocrity. Don't let the limiting beliefs of OTHERS limit what's possible for YOU. — Hal Elrod Copy Share Image
“You have the army of mediocrities followed by the multitude of fools. As the mediocrities and the fools always form the immense… — Guy de Maupassant Copy Share Image
“It is not until an age has receded into history, and all its mediocrity has dropped away from it, that we can… — Arnold Bennett Copy Share Image
If a Christian is not willing to rise early and work late, to expend greater effort in diligent study and faithful work,… — J. Oswald Sanders Copy Share Image
It's easy to deprecate some of the puffery and jingoism that often go with affirmations of 'American greatness.' It's also easy to… — Bret Stephens Copy Share Image
We don't want to think about our weaknesses. We don't want to talk about them, and we certainly don't want anyone else… — Matthew Kelly Copy Share Image
One must not think slightingly of the paradoxical…for the paradox is the source of the thinker’s passion, and the thinker without a… — Soren Kierkegaard Copy Share Image
Those touchy mediocrities who sit trembling lest someone's work prove greater than their own - they have no inkling of the loneliness… — Ayn Rand Copy Share Image
At every level in our inventory, nothing seems special about our Earth, our Sun, our Galaxy, our Local Group. Evidently, mediocrity reigns… — Eric Chaisson Copy Share Image
I have a low tolerance for mediocrity in music and life. I'm into pain and joy and the in-between doesn't interest me. — Steve Earle Copy Share Image
Beware the mediocrity that threatens middle age, its limitation of thought and interest, its dullness of fancy, its too external life, and… — Margaret Fuller Copy Share Image
We live in a world where mediocrity is the norm. Strive for excellence, and you will stand out. — Anonymous Copy Share Image
All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity is easy. Stay away from easy. — Scott Alexander Copy Share Image
You can’t talk mediocrity and expect to have victory. You are prophesying your future. If you want a shift to occur, you’ve… — Joel Osteen Copy Share Image
“Always aspire to mediocrity first. If you can do that, you’ll find you’re always moving up in life.” — Magen Toole Copy Share Image
Only with absolute fearlessness can we slay the dragons of mediocrity that invade our gardens. — George Lois Copy Share Image
Don't be intimidated by other peoples opinions. Only mediocrity is sure of itself, so take risks and do what you really want… — Anonymous Copy Share Image
I'm an intensely competitive guy who is driven by the idea that accepting mediocrity or accepting defeat is not the way you… — John W. Thompson Copy Share Image
“Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity trust upon them.” — Joseph Heller Copy Share Image
“People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how great their other talents.” — Andrew Carnegie Copy Share Image
When you're high, it's easy to kid yourself about how clever certain mediocre pieces of material are. — George Carlin Copy Share Image
Individuality is either the mark of genius or the reverse. Mediocrity finds safety in standardization. — Frederick E. Crane Copy Share Image
Contrary to popular belief, all evolving artists are in a full time battle with mediocrity. — Robert Genn Copy Share Image
“Fine is the very definition of mediocrity. It's what's polite. It's what's socially acceptable. We need to live brighter and deeper than… — Lauren Beukes Copy Share Image
A good number of works owe their success to the mediocrity of their authors' ideas, which match the mediocrity of those of… — Nicolas Chamfort Copy Share Image
Nothing is thoroughly approved but mediocrity. The majority has established this, and it fixes its fangs on whatever gets beyond it either… — Blaise Pascal Copy Share Image
The Beatles never got through to all ages, nor did Elvis Presley, or any of the other monuments of mediocrity that we've… — Frank Sinatra Jr Copy Share Image
It is fatal for art if it is forced into official respectability and condemned to sterile mediocrity. — Gustave Courbet Copy Share Image
There's a lot of mediocrity being celebrated, and a lot of wonderful stuff being ignored or discouraged. — Sean Penn Copy Share Image
Mediocrity triumphs because it presents itself as democratic and because it is dull, and so for many does not seem worth struggling… — Anthony Daniels Copy Share Image
To use many words to communicate few thoughts is everywhere the unmistakable sign of mediocrity. To gather much thought into few words… — Arthur Schopenhauer Copy Share Image
The art of putting into play mediocre qualities often begets more reputation than is achieved by true merit. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“Change makers take risks and are ready to die for excellence than to give excuses and live for mediocrity.” — Israelmore Ayivor Copy Share Image
