--- title: "Best John W. Gardner Quotes" description: "John William Gardner was Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) under President Lyndon Johnson. Browse 88 John W. Gardner quotes." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-john-w-gardner-52438.jpg" --- ![Portrait of John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-john-w-gardner-52438.jpg) # John W. Gardner (1912–2002) Politician United States **88** quotes in **537** categories Rate this collection: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet John W. Gardner was a politician from the United States, best known for *Self-Renewal*. ## Quick Facts About John W. Gardner Born October 8, 1912 Died February 16, 2002 Nationality United States Profession Politician Notable works Self-Renewal ## About John W. Gardner John William Gardner was Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) under President Lyndon Johnson. He was a strong advocate for citizen participation and founded Common Cause; he became known as "the father of campaign finance reform". ## Awards & Honors Presidential Medal of Freedom NAS Public Welfare Medal honorary doctor of the University of Miami ## Quotes by John W. Gardner · Page 2 > [Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/excellence-is-doing-ordinary-things-extraordinarily-well/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/john-w-gardner-7687_excellence_excellence-is-doing-ordinary-things-extr_2964532.jpg) > [Whoever I am, or whatever I am doing, some kind of excellence is within my reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/whoever-i-am-or-whatever-i-am-doing-some-kind-of-excellence-is-within/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/john-w-gardner-7687_doing_whoever-i-am-or-whatever-i-am-doing-some_835275.jpg) > [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/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/john-w-gardner-7687_every-day_to-sensible-men-every-day-is-a-day-of-re_73076.jpg) > [Our problem is not to find better values but to be faithful to those we profess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/our-problem-is-not-to-find-better-values-but-to-be-faithful-to-those/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/john-w-gardner-7687_faithful_our-problem-is-not-to-find-better-values_2526104.jpg) > [The world loves talent but pays off on character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-world-loves-talent-but-pays-off-on-character/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/john-w-gardner-7687_character_the-world-loves-talent-but-pays-off-on-c_2257113.jpg) > [In the United States, to an unprecedented degree, the individual's social role has come to be determined not by who he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/in-the-united-states-to-an-unprecedented-degree-the-individual-s/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Accomplish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplish/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/john-w-gardner-7687_accomplish_in-the-united-states-to-an-unprecedented_700201.jpg) > [Renewal is not just innovation and change. It is also the process of bringing the results of change into line with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/renewal-is-not-just-innovation-and-change-it-is-also-the-process-of/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/john-w-gardner-7687_change_renewal-is-not-just-innovation-and-chang_2713510.jpg) > [It is not easy to be crafty and winsome at the same time, and few accomplish it after the age of six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/it-is-not-easy-to-be-crafty-and-winsome-at-the-same-time-and-few/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Accomplish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplish/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/john-w-gardner-7687_accomplish_it-is-not-easy-to-be-crafty-and-winsome_1535091.jpg) > [The best kept secret in America today is that people would rather work hard for something they believe in than live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-best-kept-secret-in-america-today-is-that-people-would-rather/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/john-w-gardner-7687_america_the-best-kept-secret-in-america-today-is_1787066.jpg) > [Creativity requires the freedom to consider unthinkable alternatives, to doubt the worth of cherished practices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/creativity-requires-the-freedom-to-consider-unthinkable-alternatives-2/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/john-w-gardner-7687_alternatives_creativity-requires-the-freedom-to-consi_2257461.jpg) > [If our society continues at its present rate to become less livable as it becomes more affluent, we promise all to end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/if-our-society-continues-at-its-present-rate-to-become-less-livable/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Affluent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affluent/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/john-w-gardner-7687_affluent_if-our-society-continues-at-its-present_2798276.jpg) > [When one may pay out over two million dollars to presidential and Congressional campaigns, the U.S. government is virtually up for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/when-one-may-pay-out-over-two-million-dollars-to-presidential-and-2/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/john-w-gardner-7687_campaigns_when-one-may-pay-out-over-two-million-do_2975784.jpg) > [If the modern leader doesn't know the facts, he is in grave trouble, but rarely do the facts provide unqualified guidance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/if-the-modern-leader-doesn-t-know-the-facts-he-is-in-grave-trouble/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd6/john-w-gardner-7687_facts_if-the-modern-leader-doesn-t-know-the-fa_1246921.jpg) > [Americans have always believed that-within the law-all kinds of people should be allowed to take the initiative in all kinds of activities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/americans-have-always-believed-that-within-the-law-all-kinds-of/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/john-w-gardner-7687_activity_americans-have-always-believed-that-with_979752.jpg) > [One exemplary act may affect one life, or even millions of lives. All those who set standards for themselves, who strengthen the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/one-exemplary-act-may-affect-one-life-or-even-millions-of-lives-all/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/john-w-gardner-7687_accepting_one-exemplary-act-may-affect-one-life-or_621645.jpg) > [Josh Billings said, It is not only the most difficult thing to know oneself, but the most inconvenient one, too. Human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/josh-billings-said-it-is-not-only-the-most-difficult-thing-to-know/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Being yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-yourself/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/john-w-gardner-7687_being-yourself_josh-billings-said-it-is-not-only-the-mo_1048626.jpg) > [The play of conflicting interests in a framework of shared purposes is the drama of a free society. It is a robust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-play-of-conflicting-interests-in-a-framework-of-shared-purposes/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/john-w-gardner-7687_community_the-play-of-conflicting-interests-in-a-f_2469051.jpg) > [Some people may have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them. They achieve it. They do not achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/some-people-may-have-greatness-thrust-upon-them-very-few-have/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d26/john-w-gardner-7687_achieve_some-people-may-have-greatness-thrust-up_2969688.jpg) > [The creative individual has the capacity to free himself from the web of social pressures in which the rest of us are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-creative-individual-has-the-capacity-to-free-himself-from-the-web/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/john-w-gardner-7687_capable_the-creative-individual-has-the-capacity_3229439.jpg) > [The ablest and most effective leaders do not hold to a single style; they may be highly supportive in personal relations when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-ablest-and-most-effective-leaders-do-not-hold-to-a-single-style/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/john-w-gardner-7687_capable_the-ablest-and-most-effective-leaders-do_3089110.jpg) > [If one defines the term 'dropout' to mean a person who has given up serious effort to meet his responsibilities, then every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/if-one-defines-the-term-dropout-to-mean-a-person-who-has-given-up/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Agency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agency/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/john-w-gardner-7687_agency_if-one-defines-the-term-dropout-to-mean_1359959.jpg) > [Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/political-extremism-involves-two-prime-ingredients-an-excessively/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Extremism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremism/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/john-w-gardner-7687_extremism_political-extremism-involves-two-prime-i_2155856.jpg) > [Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/much-education-today-is-monumentally-ineffective-all-too-often-we-are/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b98/john-w-gardner-7687_education_much-education-today-is-monumentally-ine_626760.jpg) > [Storybook happiness involves every form of pleasant thumb-twiddling; true happiness involves the full use of one's powers and talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/storybook-happiness-involves-every-form-of-pleasant-thumb-twiddling/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/john-w-gardner-7687_form_storybook-happiness-involves-every-form_1153073.jpg) > [“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/) [Great Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-opportunities/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/john-w-gardner-7687_great-opportunities_we-are-continually-faced-with-a-series-o_51259.jpg) > [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/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/john-w-gardner-7687_burden_the-ultimate-goal-of-the-educational-sys_422799.jpg) > [Nothing can be more readily disproved than the old saw, "You can't keep a good man down." Most human societies have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/nothing-can-be-more-readily-disproved-than-the-old-saw-you-can-t-keep/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dec/john-w-gardner-7687_good-man_nothing-can-be-more-readily-disproved-th_1896039.jpg) > [If you have some respect for people as they are, you can be more effective in helping them to become better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/if-you-have-some-respect-for-people-as-they-are-you-can-be-more/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/john-w-gardner-7687_helping_if-you-have-some-respect-for-people-as-t_1472415.jpg) > [The creative individual is particularly gifted in seeing the gap between what is and what could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-creative-individual-is-particularly-gifted-in-seeing-the-gap/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/john-w-gardner-7687_creative_the-creative-individual-is-particularly_1860735.jpg) > [ The \[nonprofit\] sector enhances our creativity, enlivens our communities, nurtures individual responsibility, stirs life at the grassroots, and reminds us that we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-nonprofit-sector-enhances-our-creativity-enlivens-our-communities/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/john-w-gardner-7687_born_the-nonprofit-sector-enhances-our-creati_2192752.jpg) > [It is one of the ironies of history that reformers so often misjudge the consequences of their reforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/it-is-one-of-the-ironies-of-history-that-reformers-so-often-misjudge/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/john-w-gardner-7687_consequence_it-is-one-of-the-ironies-of-history-that_2043480.jpg) > [One of the reasons people stop learning is that they become less and less willing to risk failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/one-of-the-reasons-people-stop-learning-is-that-they-become-less-and/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/john-w-gardner-7687_education_one-of-the-reasons-people-stop-learning_2356409.jpg) > [We get richer and richer in filthier and filthier communities until we reach a final state of affluent misery - crocus on…](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/) [Affluent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affluent/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/john-w-gardner-7687_affluent_we-get-richer-and-richer-in-filthier-and_190243.jpg) > [America's greatness has been the greatness of a free people who shared certain moral commitments. Freedom without moral commitment is aimless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/america-s-greatness-has-been-the-greatness-of-a-free-people-who/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/john-w-gardner-7687_america_america-s-greatness-has-been-the-greatne_3063537.jpg) > [We need more than individual value systems; we need a shared vision. A nation is held together by shared values, shared beliefs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/we-need-more-than-individual-value-systems-we-need-a-shared-vision-a/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/john-w-gardner-7687_attitude_we-need-more-than-individual-value-syste_2930635.jpg) > [I think that all human systems require continuous renewal. They rigidify. They get stuff in the joints. They forget what they cared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/i-think-that-all-human-systems-require-continuous-renewal-they/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Appeals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeals/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/john-w-gardner-7687_appeals_i-think-that-all-human-systems-require-c_3213156.jpg) > [Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Few have excellence thrust upon them ... They achieve it. They do not achieve it…](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/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/john-w-gardner-7687_achieve_some-people-have-greatness-thrust-upon-t_262418.jpg) > [A nation is held together by shared values, shared beliefs, shared attitudes. That is what enables a people to maintain a cohesive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/a-nation-is-held-together-by-shared-values-shared-beliefs-shared/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/john-w-gardner-7687_attitude_a-nation-is-held-together-by-shared-valu_738449.jpg) > [Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders and leaders one can hear in the…](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/) [County](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/county/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/john-w-gardner-7687_county_leaders-come-in-many-forms-with-many-sty_383081.jpg) > [The idea for which this nation stands will not survive if the highest goal free man can set themselves is an amiable…](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/) [Amiable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amiable/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/john-w-gardner-7687_amiable_the-idea-for-which-this-nation-stands-wi_1123757.jpg) ## John W. Gardner by topic [People (14)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/john-w-gardner/) [Leadership (12)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/john-w-gardner/) [Life (11)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/john-w-gardner/) [Leader (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/john-w-gardner/) [Excellence (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/john-w-gardner/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/#itemlist", "name": "John W. Gardner Quotes", "numberOfItems": 40, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John W. 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