--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Arete is simply excellence and the…" description: "\"“Arete is simply excellence and the striving for excellence in all things,” said Odysseus. “Arete simply means the act of offering all actions as a sor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/dan-simmons-968_excellence_arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striv_2483165.jpg" --- # Arete is simply excellence and the striving for excellence… ![“Arete is simply excellence and the striving for excellence in all things,” said Odysseus. “Arete simply means the act of offering all actions as a sort of sacrament to excellence, of devoting one’s life to finding excellence, identifying it when it offers itself, and achieving it in your own life.” quote by Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/dan-simmons-968_excellence_arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striv_2483165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/dan-simmons-968_excellence_arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striv_2483165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/dan-simmons-968_excellence_arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striv_2483165.jpg) > ““Arete is simply excellence and the striving for excellence in all things,” said Odysseus. “Arete simply means the act of offering all actions as a sort of sacrament to excellence, of devoting one’s life to finding excellence, identifying it when it offers itself, and achieving it in your own life.”” [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Arete is the pursuit of excellence in all actions, treating each as a sacred offering toward personal mastery. **In simple terms:** Arete means striving for excellence in everything. Key Takeaway Pursue excellence as a sacred practice. Themes philosophy self‑improvement excellence spirituality purpose Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily meditation - skill development - ethical decision‑making - ritual practice Key Concepts virtue ethics sacramental view of actions personal mastery Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance excellence with self‑compassion? - What daily actions can become sacred to you? A Different Perspective May set unrealistic standards, leading to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arete-884880/) [Arete Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arete-simply-884882/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Excellence Devoting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence-devoting-884883/) [Excellence Striving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence-striving-884884/) [Odysseus Arete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odysseus-arete-884881/) [Striving for excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving-for-excellence/) ## Related quotes > [Perfection, fortunately, is not the only alternative to mediocrity. A more sensible alternative is excellence. Striving for excellence is stimulating and rewarding; striving for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-bliss/perfection-fortunately-is-not-the-only-alternative-to-mediocrity-a/) [Ed Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-bliss/) > [Striving for excellence > Striving for relevance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/striving-for-excellence-striving-for-relevance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Learn the difference between striving for excellence and striving for perfection. The first is attainable; the second is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/learn-the-difference-between-striving-for-excellence-and-striving-for/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [You are what you do repeatedly every day. If excellence is something you're striving for, then it's not an accident. It's a habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-plitt/you-are-what-you-do-repeatedly-every-day-if-excellence-is-something/) [Greg Plitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-plitt/) > [Beyoncé says it was Mathew Knowles, her father, who made her understand discipline and work ethic, what it means to come in early before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/beyonc-says-it-was-mathew-knowles-her-father-who-made-her-understand/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [My new years resolution is to work on ways to make myself better...striving for excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-new-years-resolution-is-to-work-on-ways-to-make-myself-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't waste your time striving for perfection; instead, strive for excellence - doing your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/don-t-waste-your-time-striving-for-perfection-instead-strive-for/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [Striving for excellence will motivate to do the best endeavour.It will inculcate habit of doing something with perseverance & perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/striving-for-excellence-will-motivate-to-do-the-best-endeavour-it/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [I on don't dwell on people that dont want better for themselves because I myself is striving for excellence in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-on-don-t-dwell-on-people-that-dont-want-better-for-themselves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know, I think it's so ironic that we're calling hard work, striving for excellence, don't blame others, you know, don't give up, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/you-know-i-think-it-s-so-ironic-that-we-re-calling-hard-work-striving/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [It is up to the leader to create a healthy environment where people are not afraid to fail. Mistakes should be seen as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-harvey/it-is-up-to-the-leader-to-create-a-healthy-environment-where-people/) [Andrew Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-harvey/) > [And with a few moments like that, with doubt from here and there, and within ourselves we were just striving for excellence. We had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-rn-utzon/and-with-a-few-moments-like-that-with-doubt-from-here-and-there-and/) [Jørn Utzon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-rn-utzon/) > [Striving for excellence is a positive quality. Striving for perfection is self-defeating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/striving-for-excellence-is-a-positive-quality-striving-for-perfection/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Striving for excellence motivates you.Excellence in itself is an attitude.Though skill may play role in excellence,but ultimately it is attitude which matters most.Excellence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/striving-for-excellence-motivates-you-excellence-in-itself-is-an/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“Perfection may not be possible, but striving for excellence is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/perfection-may-not-be-possible-but-striving-for-excellence-is/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) ## More by Dan Simmons > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“The Song of Kali is with us. It has been with us for a very long time. Its chorus grows and grows and grows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/the-song-of-kali-is-with-us-it-has-been-with-us-for-a-very-long-time/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In the end, thought Sol, past logic and hope, it is dreams and the love of those dearest to us that form Abraham’s answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/in-the-end-thought-sol-past-logic-and-hope-it-is-dreams-and-the-love/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“After seven centuries of existence and at least four centuries where few citizens existed without it, the datasphere – including the All Thing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/after-seven-centuries-of-existence-and-at-least-four-centuries-where/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Context is to data what water is to a dolphin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/context-is-to-data-what-water-is-to-a-dolphin/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Pain is an interesting and off-putting thing. Few if any things in life concentrate our attention so completely and terribly, and few things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/pain-is-an-interesting-and-off-putting-thing-few-if-any-things-in/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Luckily, even as a young man not yet become himself, John Bridgens had two things besides indecision that kept him from self-destruction - books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/luckily-even-as-a-young-man-not-yet-become-himself-john-bridgens-had/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“To be a poet, I realized, a true poet, was to become the Avatar of humanity incarnate; to accept the mantle of poet is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/to-be-a-poet-i-realized-a-true-poet-was-to-become-the-avatar-of/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Those who ignore history's lessons in the ultimate folly of war are forced to do more than relive them ... they may be forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/those-who-ignore-history-s-lessons-in-the-ultimate-folly-of-war-are/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“The day before the Queen's Ball, Father had a visitor--a very young girl with literary aspirations, someone Lord Lytton had recommended visit Father and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/the-day-before-the-queen-s-ball-father-had-a-visitor-a-very-young/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [You've probably heard about the theory of steam-engine time - that even after the steam engine had been invented, it had to wait until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/you-ve-probably-heard-about-the-theory-of-steam-engine-time-that-even/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER MISUSE OF THIS CHANNEL. YOU ARE DISTURBING OTHERS WHO ARE USING IT TO SERIOUS PURPOSE. ACCESS WILL BE RESTORED…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/there-will-be-no-further-misuse-of-this-channel-you-are-disturbing/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“I know the fucking Bible, and there ain't no fucking Book of Leviathan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-know-the-fucking-bible-and-there-ain-t-no-fucking-book-of-leviathan/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [I loved you backward and forward in time. I loved you beyond boundaries of time and space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-loved-you-backward-and-forward-in-time-i-loved-you-beyond/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [ “Men who read a lot have a more sensitive disposition, added Fowler. \[...\] I did not know what to say to this. Maybe reading… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/men-who-read-a-lot-have-a-more-sensitive-disposition-added-fowler-i/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) [Explore all 307 Dan Simmons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Arete is simply excellence and the striving for excellence in all things,” said Odysseus. “Arete simply means the act of offering all actions as a sort of sacrament to excellence, of devoting one’s life to finding excellence, identifying it when it offers itself, and achieving it in your own life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Simmons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striving-for-excellence-in-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striving-for-excellence-in-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/dan-simmons-968_excellence_arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striv_2483165.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/dan-simmons-968_excellence_arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striv_2483165.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/dan-simmons-968_excellence_arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striv_2483165.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Arete is simply excellence and the striving for excellence in all things,” said Odysseus. “Arete simply…” — Dan Simmons", "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": "Dan Simmons", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Arete is simply excellence and the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striving-for-excellence-in-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/arete-is-simply-excellence-and-the-striving-for-excellence-in-all/#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 } } ] } ```