--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Excellence is the asymptotic state that…" description: "\"Excellence is the asymptotic state that never quite reaches perfection.\" — Andy Hargreaves" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/andy-hargreaves-4648_excellence_excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that_1184267.png" --- # Excellence is the asymptotic state that never quite… ![“Excellence is the asymptotic state that never quite reaches perfection.” quote by Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/andy-hargreaves-4648_excellence_excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that_1184267.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/andy-hargreaves-4648_excellence_excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that_1184267.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/andy-hargreaves-4648_excellence_excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that_1184267.png) > “Excellence is the asymptotic state that never quite reaches perfection.” [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence is an ever‑approaching ideal that never fully materializes. **In simple terms:** Excellence is never perfect. Key Takeaway Pursue continual improvement. Themes education self‑improvement perfection Mood thoughtful inspirational Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - teaching - personal development - organizational leadership - coaching Key Concepts philosophy goal setting learning theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance striving for excellence with contentment? - When is “good enough” acceptable? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can hinder satisfaction and progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Never quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-quit/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) ## Related quotes > [Character never quits; and with patience and persistence; Dreams do come true!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-maravich/character-never-quits-and-with-patience-and-persistence-dreams-do/) [Pete Maravich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-maravich/) > [“Life gives us struggles first and reward later. And as a writer my life's purpose is to write and tell stories. Some people encourage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/life-gives-us-struggles-first-and-reward-later-and-as-a-writer-my/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [Once you grow accustomed to being famous, you do not realize it, but you are never quite your humble, honest self. No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corra-may-harris/once-you-grow-accustomed-to-being-famous-you-do-not-realize-it-but/) [Corra May Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corra-may-harris/) > [When your dreams are crushed, and your hopes are hushed, just remember: the wind can't be rushed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-your-dreams-are-crushed-and-your-hopes-are-hushed-just-remember/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't reach your goals because you QUIT when things don't happen fast enough for you. The bigger the goal the longer it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-don-t-reach-your-goals-because-you-quit-when-things-don-t-happen/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Man, while he loves, is never quite depraved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/man-while-he-loves-is-never-quite-depraved/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm tired. I am old and I have never quit pursuing my goals. I am heavily involved in real estate right now, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-m-tired-i-am-old-and-i-have-never-quit-pursuing-my-goals-i-am/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Have dreams/goals and never quit working toward achieving them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rodriguez/have-dreams-goals-and-never-quit-working-toward-achieving-them/) [Adam Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rodriguez/) > [Winners are not those who never fail. Winners are those who Never quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/winners-are-not-those-who-never-fail-winners-are-those-who-never-quit/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Never give up on something when in fact you know that it's the only thing that could make you happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariejoie-uro/never-give-up-on-something-when-in-fact-you-know-that-it-s-the-only/) [Mariejoie Uro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariejoie-uro/) > [Whenever you are faced with darkness, hardship and adversity; be brave, courageous, smile and keep pushing forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/whenever-you-are-faced-with-darkness-hardship-and-adversity-be-brave/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [For those of us who try to keep remembering, Try to do our better than our best. Think of all the children in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/for-those-of-us-who-try-to-keep-remembering-try-to-do-our-better-than/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [You lost everything? Haha what are you talking about? Oh me crazy huh? Well tell me, what did you have the day you pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-ping/you-lost-everything-haha-what-are-you-talking-about-oh-me-crazy-huh/) [Mr Ping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-ping/) > [Never quit! It gives those who stand with you too much pain and those who stand against you too much satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/never-quit-it-gives-those-who-stand-with-you-too-much-pain-and-those/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A real stunner. Want to get swept up on a journey you will never forget and never quite escape? Open THE RITUAL OF ILLUSION…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitley-strieber/a-real-stunner-want-to-get-swept-up-on-a-journey-you-will-never/) [Whitley Strieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitley-strieber/) ## More by Andy Hargreaves > [Educational reforms are like ripe fruit. They rarely travel well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/educational-reforms-are-like-ripe-fruit-they-rarely-travel-well/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [It is not the time to put school districts up for auction. Now is the time to galvanize them into action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/it-is-not-the-time-to-put-school-districts-up-for-auction-now-is-the/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Too often, shared visions really mean, "I have a vision; you share it!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/too-often-shared-visions-really-mean-i-have-a-vision-you-share-it/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [If we're all on the same page, no one's reading the whole book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/if-we-re-all-on-the-same-page-no-one-s-reading-the-whole-book/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Courageous leadership is not fearless leadership. What makes you a leader is how you deal with your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/courageous-leadership-is-not-fearless-leadership-what-makes-you-a/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Leadership is the cigarette that's smoked once the change has been consummated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/leadership-is-the-cigarette-that-s-smoked-once-the-change-has-been/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Every solution has a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/every-solution-has-a-problem/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Too many professional development initiatives are done to teachers - not for, with or by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/too-many-professional-development-initiatives-are-done-to-teachers/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Pompous asses knows how to put the moan in sanctimonious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/pompous-asses-knows-how-to-put-the-moan-in-sanctimonious/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Teaching is a never-ending story. The work is never over; the job is never done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/teaching-is-a-never-ending-story-the-work-is-never-over-the-job-is/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [It's time for the US to widen its circle of learning, not to circle its wagons against hostile ideas in education reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/it-s-time-for-the-us-to-widen-its-circle-of-learning-not-to-circle/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Teaching is not the oldest profession. But it is certainly among the loneliest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/teaching-is-not-the-oldest-profession-but-it-is-certainly-among-the/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Students and their families carry more responsibility for student success in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/students-and-their-families-carry-more-responsibility-for-student/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [Singapore gives 10% "white space" time to all of its teachers to come up with their own innovations outside of the official curriculum. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/singapore-gives-10-white-space-time-to-all-of-its-teachers-to-come-up/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [On learning: if you really want alignment, go to a chiropractor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/on-learning-if-you-really-want-alignment-go-to-a-chiropractor/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) [Explore all 108 Andy Hargreaves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) ## More Excellence quotes > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) Philip Selznick > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Excellence is the asymptotic state that never quite reaches perfection.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andy Hargreaves" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that-never-quite-reaches-perfection/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that-never-quite-reaches-perfection/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/andy-hargreaves-4648_excellence_excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that_1184267.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/andy-hargreaves-4648_excellence_excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that_1184267.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/andy-hargreaves-4648_excellence_excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that_1184267.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Excellence is the asymptotic state that never quite reaches perfection.” — Andy Hargreaves", "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": "Andy Hargreaves", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Excellence is the asymptotic state that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that-never-quite-reaches-perfection/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/excellence-is-the-asymptotic-state-that-never-quite-reaches-perfection/#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 } } ] } ```