--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no real excellence in all of…" description: "\"There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.\" — David Starr Jordan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/david-starr-jordan-27134_excellence_there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-th_151107.jpg" --- # There is no real excellence in all of this world which can… ![“There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.” quote by David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/david-starr-jordan-27134_excellence_there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-th_151107.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/david-starr-jordan-27134_excellence_there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-th_151107.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/david-starr-jordan-27134_excellence_there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-th_151107.jpg) > “There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.” [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True excellence cannot be separated from moral living. **In simple terms:** Excellence requires moral conduct. Key Takeaway Align personal success with ethical behavior. Themes ethics excellence integrity philosophy character Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - leadership - education - personal development Key Concepts virtue purpose legacy Questions to Reflect On - Can one be excellent yet immoral? - How does morality shape achievement? A Different Perspective Excellence without ethics may be hollow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Excellence World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence-world-1681453/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-excellence-432540/) [Right Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-living-432538/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Separated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-separated-1681454/) ## Related quotes > [There is no real excellence in all this word which can be separated from right living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-this-word-which-can-be-separated/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [“If you go through the world looking for excellence, you will find excellence. If you go through the world looking for problems you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/if-you-go-through-the-world-looking-for-excellence-you-will-find/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [You've got to keep the stage world and your real world separated or you're headed for trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/you-ve-got-to-keep-the-stage-world-and-your-real-world-separated-or/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/they-that-love-beyond-the-world-cannot-be-separated-by-it-death/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Real excellence, indeed, is most recognized when most openly looked into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/real-excellence-indeed-is-most-recognized-when-most-openly-looked-into/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Real excellence does not come cheaply. A certain price must be paid in terms of practice, patience, and persistence - natural ability notwithstanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/real-excellence-does-not-come-cheaply-a-certain-price-must-be-paid-in/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are all, right now, living the life we choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/we-are-all-right-now-living-the-life-we-choose/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [“Right living isn’t about keeping a list of rules, but about knowing God. And the sacrifice of praise is what puts us on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-law/right-living-isn-t-about-keeping-a-list-of-rules-but-about-knowing/) [Terry Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-law/) > [“Feeling right” is about living the life that’s right for you—in occupation, location, marital status, and so on. It’s also about virtue: doing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/feeling-right-is-about-living-the-life-that-s-right-for-you-in/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [The essence of right living is to do good to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shri-radhe-maa/the-essence-of-right-living-is-to-do-good-to-others/) [Shri Radhe Maa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shri-radhe-maa/) > [The best theatre I've done, I've done right here in this living room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-frid/the-best-theatre-i-ve-done-i-ve-done-right-here-in-this-living-room/) [Jonathan Frid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-frid/) > [“The fact remains that getting people right is not what living is all about anyway. It's getting them wrong that is living, getting them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-fact-remains-that-getting-people-right-is-not-what-living-is-all/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [The end of culture is right living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-end-of-culture-is-right-living/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [For they, the philosophers, were considered teachers of right living, which is far more excellent, since to speak well belongs only to a few,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lactantius/for-they-the-philosophers-were-considered-teachers-of-right-living/) [Lactantius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lactantius/) > [Right believing produces right living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/right-believing-produces-right-living/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) ## More by David Starr Jordan > [There is no real excellence in all this word which can be separated from right living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-this-word-which-can-be-separated/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [To say no at the right time, and then stand by it, is the first element of success. He is the wise man who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-stand-by-it-is-the-first-element/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [No one can afford to look downward for his enjoyments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/no-one-can-afford-to-look-downward-for-his-enjoyments/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [When a dog barks at the moon, then it is religion; but when he barks at strangers, it is patriotism!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/when-a-dog-barks-at-the-moon-then-it-is-religion-but-when-he-barks-at/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [The physiological law of Transfer of Energy is the basis of human success and happiness. There is no action without expenditure of energy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/the-physiological-law-of-transfer-of-energy-is-the-basis-of-human/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/wisdom-is-knowing-what-to-do-next-virtue-is-doing-it/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Whatever you attempt, go at it with spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/whatever-you-attempt-go-at-it-with-spirit/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Be a life long or short, its completeness depends on what it was lived for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/be-a-life-long-or-short-its-completeness-depends-on-what-it-was-lived/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Our country is now at war and the only way out is forward. I would not change one word I have spoken against war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/our-country-is-now-at-war-and-the-only-way-out-is-forward-i-would-not/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows whither he is going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/the-world-turns-aside-to-let-any-man-pass-who-knows-whither-he-is/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [The problem of life is not to make life easier, but to make men stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/the-problem-of-life-is-not-to-make-life-easier-but-to-make-men/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Whatever is not nailed down is mine." This is the motto of the exploiter. "Whatever can be pried loose is not nailed down." This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/whatever-is-not-nailed-down-is-mine-this-is-the-motto-of-the/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [No one is really miserable who has not tried to cheapen life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/no-one-is-really-miserable-who-has-not-tried-to-cheapen-life/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [There is no pleasure in life equal to that of the conquest of a vicious habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-pleasure-in-life-equal-to-that-of-the-conquest-of-a/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/wisdom-is-knowing-what-to-do-next-skill-is-knowing-how-to-do-it-and-2/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) [Explore all 21 David Starr Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) ## 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": "There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Starr Jordan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-this-world-which-can-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-this-world-which-can-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/david-starr-jordan-27134_excellence_there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-th_151107.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/david-starr-jordan-27134_excellence_there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-th_151107.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/david-starr-jordan-27134_excellence_there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-th_151107.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.” — David Starr Jordan", "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": "David Starr Jordan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is no real excellence in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-this-world-which-can-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-this-world-which-can-be/#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 } } ] } ```