--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone has the impulse to be elite." description: "\"Everyone has the impulse to be elite.\" — Alfre Woodard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/alfre-woodard-23247_elite_everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite-570_570202.png" --- # Everyone has the impulse to be elite. ![“Everyone has the impulse to be elite.” quote by Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/alfre-woodard-23247_elite_everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite-570_570202.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/alfre-woodard-23247_elite_everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite-570_570202.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/alfre-woodard-23247_elite_everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite-570_570202.png) > “Everyone has the impulse to be elite.” [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She notes a universal drive within people to strive for excellence and elite status. **In simple terms:** Everyone wants to be elite. Key Takeaway Recognize the drive for excellence. Themes aspiration excellence human nature motivation Mood determined hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - sports competition - academic pursuits Key Concepts psychology of ambition social comparison self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How does this impulse affect your choices? - What healthy outlets satisfy this drive? A Different Perspective Elite pursuit can cause unhealthy pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elite/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Impulse Elite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse-elite-4707459/) ## Related quotes > [The strange rejection of the expert is mind boggling to me. When we're told that the worst word in politics is 'elite,' I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/the-strange-rejection-of-the-expert-is-mind-boggling-to-me-when-we-re/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [Sometimes people who want to understand Haiti from a political perspective may be missing part of the picture. They also need to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/sometimes-people-who-want-to-understand-haiti-from-a-political/) [Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/) > [Outside of the Moscow elite and a very small urban elite, Russia is one great big blue-collar country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-hill/outside-of-the-moscow-elite-and-a-very-small-urban-elite-russia-is/) [Fiona Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-hill/) > [“The Warrior Elite,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/the-warrior-elite/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [When you are dealing with a mass movement, as opposed to a quote-unquote "elite," you are talking to people who don't have time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-mass-movement-as-opposed-to-a-quote/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [As countries embrace mass higher education, the cost of maintaining universities increases dramatically relative to an elite system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/as-countries-embrace-mass-higher-education-the-cost-of-maintaining/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding-its-way/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/as-democracy-is-perfected-the-office-of-president-represents-more-and/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [Economists actually disagree about whether there are significant economic returns from attending an elite college versus a less-selective one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-oster/economists-actually-disagree-about-whether-there-are-significant/) [Emily Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-oster/) > [There's a lot of pressure, and it's a long battle, to coach at the elite level. My wife and I didn't take a vacation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liang-chow/there-s-a-lot-of-pressure-and-it-s-a-long-battle-to-coach-at-the/) [Liang Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liang-chow/) > [“If you are frustrated with the elite of your society, do something about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-you-are-frustrated-with-the-elite-of-your-society-do-something/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [In UFC there are K-1 strikers, but I want to be good at everything. You can be an elite striker, but I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovince-saint-preux/in-ufc-there-are-k-1-strikers-but-i-want-to-be-good-at-everything-you/) [Ovince Saint Preux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovince-saint-preux/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [Having cancer gave me membership in an elite club I'd rather not belong to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/having-cancer-gave-me-membership-in-an-elite-club-i-d-rather-not/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) ## More by Alfre Woodard > [Even when I was saying I was Agnostic and trying to figure out my thoughts, I felt God was allowing me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/even-when-i-was-saying-i-was-agnostic-and-trying-to-figure-out-my/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [Television studios bet the farm on reality shows, where they didn't need any actors and movie studios had no plans for any quality movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/television-studios-bet-the-farm-on-reality-shows-where-they-didn-t/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [I think people need to understand that with plays and with cinema, when you hear about it, call and get a ticket then or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-think-people-need-to-understand-that-with-plays-and-with-cinema/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [I was like, wait a minute. When I hear my sisters' names, I want to have a joyful feeling in my heart about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-was-like-wait-a-minute-when-i-hear-my-sisters-names-i-want-to-have/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [You very seldom see a picture where you watch the process of falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/you-very-seldom-see-a-picture-where-you-watch-the-process-of-falling/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [Does my character hate Bree? Well, let's just put it this way. Bree hasn't seen the last of me. I gave that drunk gal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/does-my-character-hate-bree-well-let-s-just-put-it-this-way-bree-hasn/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [When you expect good, it's available constantly, and it makes itself a reality in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/when-you-expect-good-it-s-available-constantly-and-it-makes-itself-a/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [I can't say too much about it because I don't know a lot. We're not told what's in store for our characters until we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-can-t-say-too-much-about-it-because-i-don-t-know-a-lot-we-re-not/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [As an adult after college and as an artist I thought about what was real, what sustained me - it was Christian Science. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/as-an-adult-after-college-and-as-an-artist-i-thought-about-what-was/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [The ones I love most are the people who the flaws show. I like doing characters that we see the total person. If people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/the-ones-i-love-most-are-the-people-who-the-flaws-show-i-like-doing/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [And I communed with many different faiths and even when I wanted to be rebellious I never did not believe in Him. I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/and-i-communed-with-many-different-faiths-and-even-when-i-wanted-to/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [Once our storyline gets under way, I just hope people don't throw cabbages at me in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/once-our-storyline-gets-under-way-i-just-hope-people-don-t-throw/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [People live a lot freer in their body and their voices and their moves than people act onscreen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/people-live-a-lot-freer-in-their-body-and-their-voices-and-their/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [I identify myself as an actor, because I feel like you don't go to the doctress, you go to the doctor; it doesn't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-identify-myself-as-an-actor-because-i-feel-like-you-don-t-go-to-the/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [After 9/11 and the impending actors' strike of a few years ago, roles dried up for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/after-9-11-and-the-impending-actors-strike-of-a-few-years-ago-roles/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) [Explore all 26 Alfre Woodard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) ## More Elite quotes > [The strange rejection of the expert is mind boggling to me. When we're told that the worst word in politics is 'elite,' I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/the-strange-rejection-of-the-expert-is-mind-boggling-to-me-when-we-re/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [In UFC there are K-1 strikers, but I want to be good at everything. You can be an elite striker, but I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovince-saint-preux/in-ufc-there-are-k-1-strikers-but-i-want-to-be-good-at-everything-you/) [Ovince Saint Preux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovince-saint-preux/) > [“If you are frustrated with the elite of your society, do something about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-you-are-frustrated-with-the-elite-of-your-society-do-something/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [There's a lot of pressure, and it's a long battle, to coach at the elite level. My wife and I didn't take a vacation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liang-chow/there-s-a-lot-of-pressure-and-it-s-a-long-battle-to-coach-at-the/) [Liang Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liang-chow/) > [Economists actually disagree about whether there are significant economic returns from attending an elite college versus a less-selective one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-oster/economists-actually-disagree-about-whether-there-are-significant/) [Emily Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-oster/) > [“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/as-democracy-is-perfected-the-office-of-president-represents-more-and/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding-its-way/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [As countries embrace mass higher education, the cost of maintaining universities increases dramatically relative to an elite system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/as-countries-embrace-mass-higher-education-the-cost-of-maintaining/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [When you are dealing with a mass movement, as opposed to a quote-unquote "elite," you are talking to people who don't have time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-mass-movement-as-opposed-to-a-quote/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [“The Warrior Elite,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/the-warrior-elite/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [Outside of the Moscow elite and a very small urban elite, Russia is one great big blue-collar country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-hill/outside-of-the-moscow-elite-and-a-very-small-urban-elite-russia-is/) [Fiona Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-hill/) > [Sometimes people who want to understand Haiti from a political perspective may be missing part of the picture. They also need to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/sometimes-people-who-want-to-understand-haiti-from-a-political/) [Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/) > [Having cancer gave me membership in an elite club I'd rather not belong to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/having-cancer-gave-me-membership-in-an-elite-club-i-d-rather-not/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) [Browse all 392 Elite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elite/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone has the impulse to be elite.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfre Woodard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Elite" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/alfre-woodard-23247_elite_everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite-570_570202.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/alfre-woodard-23247_elite_everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite-570_570202.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/alfre-woodard-23247_elite_everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite-570_570202.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everyone has the impulse to be elite.” — Alfre Woodard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alfre Woodard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Everyone has the impulse to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/everyone-has-the-impulse-to-be-elite/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```