--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't achieve greatness in life being…" description: "\"You don't achieve greatness in life being surrounded by mediocre people with mediocre values. Choose your company wisely.\" — Amy Chan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/amy-chan-22921_achieve_you-don-t-achieve-greatness-in-life-bein_113854.jpg" --- # You don't achieve greatness in life being surrounded by… ![“You don't achieve greatness in life being surrounded by mediocre people with mediocre values. Choose your company wisely.” quote by Amy Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/amy-chan-22921_achieve_you-don-t-achieve-greatness-in-life-bein_113854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/amy-chan-22921_achieve_you-don-t-achieve-greatness-in-life-bein_113854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/amy-chan-22921_achieve_you-don-t-achieve-greatness-in-life-bein_113854.jpg) > “You don't achieve greatness in life being surrounded by mediocre people with mediocre values. Choose your company wisely.” [Amy Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness stems from surrounding yourself with people who uphold high standards and values, not mediocrity. **In simple terms:** Choose high‑value companions to foster personal excellence. Key Takeaway Your circle shapes your ambition. Themes leadership values social influence personal growth Mood motivational reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career networking - friendship circles - team building - mentorship programs Key Concepts environmental impact on achievement Practical Applications - curate a supportive network - set clear value criteria for relationships Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess the values of those you spend time with? - What steps can you take if your current circle hinders growth? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-greatness/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [High achievers don't like mediocre people, mediocre people don't like high achievers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/high-achievers-don-t-like-mediocre-people-mediocre-people-don-t-like/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/people-of-mediocre-ability-sometimes-achieve-outstanding-success/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [In the real world, very smart people fail and mediocre people rise. Part of what makes people fail or succeed are skills that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/in-the-real-world-very-smart-people-fail-and-mediocre-people-rise/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Only mediocre people are at the best all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/only-mediocre-people-are-at-the-best-all-the-time/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Technology is a bit of a double-edged sword. Used right, it's a wonderful tool, but unfortunately, it makes it easier for a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/technology-is-a-bit-of-a-double-edged-sword-used-right-it-s-a/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [Some people are born mediocre, some people achieve mediocrity, and some people have mediocrity thrust upon them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/some-people-are-born-mediocre-some-people-achieve-mediocrity-and-some/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Don’t let mediocre people talk you out of your dreams; lions have little in common with sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/don-t-let-mediocre-people-talk-you-out-of-your-dreams-lions-have/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Most people who are deemed 'mean' are usually perfectionist who make mediocre people unhappy, cause they put more pressure on them then they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/most-people-who-are-deemed-mean-are-usually-perfectionist-who-make/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [We create a standard for how we want to do things and everybody's got to buy into that standard or you really can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/we-create-a-standard-for-how-we-want-to-do-things-and-everybody-s-got/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [...mediocre people find their way into positions of authority...because when it comes to even the most important positions, our selection decisions are a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/mediocre-people-find-their-way-into-positions-of-authority-because/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Mediocre people are the most dangerous people in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/mediocre-people-are-the-most-dangerous-people-in-the-world/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [Mediocre people often have a tinge of religion about them, but it is only a tinge. They take their religion as it comes. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dubay/mediocre-people-often-have-a-tinge-of-religion-about-them-but-it-is/) [Thomas Dubay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dubay/) > [Making mistakes is the privilege of the active. It is always the mediocre people who are negative, who spend their time proving that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingvar-kamprad/making-mistakes-is-the-privilege-of-the-active-it-is-always-the/) [Ingvar Kamprad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingvar-kamprad/) > [Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/getting-ahead-in-a-difficult-profession-requires-avid-faith-in-2/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [“In fact, most of us see perseverance as a distinctly uncreative approach, the sort of strategy that people with mediocre ideas are forced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/in-fact-most-of-us-see-perseverance-as-a-distinctly-uncreative/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) ## More by Amy Chan > [If you want to know someone, just look at who they choose to spend their time with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chan/if-you-want-to-know-someone-just-look-at-who-they-choose-to-spend/) [Amy Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chan/) > [Chemistry does not guarantee compatibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chan/chemistry-does-not-guarantee-compatibility/) [Amy Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chan/) > [There's a great difference between being positive and being delusional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chan/there-s-a-great-difference-between-being-positive-and-being-delusional/) [Amy Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chan/) > [Oftentimes, we get advice from people who are not equipped to give it, and it does more harm than good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chan/oftentimes-we-get-advice-from-people-who-are-not-equipped-to-give-it/) [Amy Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chan/) > [Spend less time shopping, more time traveling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chan/spend-less-time-shopping-more-time-traveling/) [Amy Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chan/) > [I've learned through the years how to base my identity and sense of self-worth on myself and not others. 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. 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