--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I mentioned the non-competitive spirit…" description: "\"I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But excellence is a competitive notion, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/edsger-dijkstra-5102_competitive_i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-e_1501540.jpg" --- # I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because… ![“I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But excellence is a competitive notion, and that is not what we are heading for: we are heading for perfection.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/edsger-dijkstra-5102_competitive_i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-e_1501540.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/edsger-dijkstra-5102_competitive_i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-e_1501540.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/edsger-dijkstra-5102_competitive_i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-e_1501540.jpg) > “I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But excellence is a competitive notion, and that is not what we are heading for: we are heading for perfection.” [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) ## 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 inherently competitive, but true aim should be flawless perfection. **In simple terms:** Excellence competes; perfection does not. Key Takeaway Strive for flawless outcomes, not just superior ones. Themes perfection excellence competition philosophy Mood analytical critical Type theoretical inspirational When to use this quote - software development - product design - personal growth - education Key Concepts Systems theory ethical standards Questions to Reflect On - Can perfection be a realistic goal? - How does competition affect quality? A Different Perspective Perfection can be unattainable and stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) [Competitive spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive-spirit/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Fashionable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashionable/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [Competitive spirit is a driving force that keeps life going with a thrill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/balachandra-menon/competitive-spirit-is-a-driving-force-that-keeps-life-going-with-a/) [Balachandra Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/balachandra-menon/) > [I like to watch anyone who has great competitive spirit and will: passionate teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/i-like-to-watch-anyone-who-has-great-competitive-spirit-and-will/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [Competitive spirit is still at a premium. The more you win, the better you play, the more money you make, so they all have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/competitive-spirit-is-still-at-a-premium-the-more-you-win-the-better/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [This is another kind of competition, but I'm being coached by an excellent team, and I've got a real strong competitive spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-fleming/this-is-another-kind-of-competition-but-i-m-being-coached-by-an/) [Peggy Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-fleming/) > [I'll play as long as that competitive spirit and drive is there because that's what gets me up in the morning, that feeling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-broad/i-ll-play-as-long-as-that-competitive-spirit-and-drive-is-there/) [Stuart Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-broad/) > [Society asks of most men more than sheer intellect ability-it demands also moral hardiness, self-discipline, a competitive spirit and other qualities that in more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-adams-stratton/society-asks-of-most-men-more-than-sheer-intellect-ability-it-demands/) Julius Adams Stratton > [ Coming up, you \[got new\] sneakers and you had to run outside to make sure everyone saw. It was on display. That's just part… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pusha-t/coming-up-you-got-new-sneakers-and-you-had-to-run-outside-to-make/) [Pusha T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pusha-t/) > [Anyone who believes the competitive spirit in America is dead has never been in a supermarket when the cashier opens another check-out line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-landers/anyone-who-believes-the-competitive-spirit-in-america-is-dead-has/) [Ann Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-landers/) > [I have always disliked the fierce competitive spirit embodied in that highly intellectual game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-have-always-disliked-the-fierce-competitive-spirit-embodied-in-that/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I don't get irrational about it, but I do have a deeply-rooted competitive spirit. Not necessarily towards other people, but towards any obstacle that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-don-t-get-irrational-about-it-but-i-do-have-a-deeply-rooted/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [“I want them to be great people with enough competitive spirit and self-confidence to drive them to follow and excel at their passions —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-duron/i-want-them-to-be-great-people-with-enough-competitive-spirit-and/) [Lori Duron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-duron/) > [I'm not gonna be bad at anything, and I want to actually be the best at anything I'm doing. So if I'm playing basketball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-m-not-gonna-be-bad-at-anything-and-i-want-to-actually-be-the-best/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I definitely feel like I've put in a lot of work and shown my value and shown the worth, shown my competitive spirit, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-collins/i-definitely-feel-like-i-ve-put-in-a-lot-of-work-and-shown-my-value/) [John Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-collins/) > [A NASCAR guy can drop-kick another driver through his car window and it is just considered part of the sport. Hockey players drop their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/a-nascar-guy-can-drop-kick-another-driver-through-his-car-window-and/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [It's a rough and tumble game whenever power is involved - people's ambitions, their desires, their competitive spirit will often push them to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/it-s-a-rough-and-tumble-game-whenever-power-is-involved-people-s/) [Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/) ## More by Edsger Dijkstra > [Production speed is severely slowed down if one works with half-time people who have other obligations as well. This is at least a factor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/production-speed-is-severely-slowed-down-if-one-works-with-half-time/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The computing scientist's main challenge is not to get confused by the complexities of his own making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-computing-scientist-s-main-challenge-is-not-to-get-confused-by/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Probably I am very naive, but I also think I prefer to remain so, at least for the time being and perhaps for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/probably-i-am-very-naive-but-i-also-think-i-prefer-to-remain-so-at/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [In the good old days physicists repeated each other's experiments, just to be sure. Today they stick to FORTRAN, so that they can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-the-good-old-days-physicists-repeated-each-other-s-experiments/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/don-t-compete-with-me-firstly-i-have-more-experience-and-secondly-i/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/computer-science-is-no-more-about-computers-than-astronomy-is-about/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The use of anthropomorphic terminology forces you linguistically to adopt an operational view. And it makes it practically impossible to argue about programs independently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-use-of-anthropomorphic-terminology-forces-you-linguistically-to/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Teaching to unsuspecting youngsters the effective use of formal methods is one of the joys of life because it is so extremely rewarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/teaching-to-unsuspecting-youngsters-the-effective-use-of-formal/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [ Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about \[the goto statement\]. I have the uncomfortable feeling that others… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-believing-that-i-am-terribly/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Brainpower is by far our scarcest resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/brainpower-is-by-far-our-scarcest-resource/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Programming in Basic causes brain damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/programming-in-basic-causes-brain-damage/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inability-to-suffer-fools-gladly/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [I now have had my foggy crystal ball for quite a long time. Its predictions are invariably gloomy and usually correct, but I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/i-now-have-had-my-foggy-crystal-ball-for-quite-a-long-time-its/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [In this respect a program is like a poem: you cannot write a poem without writing it. Yet people talk about programming as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-this-respect-a-program-is-like-a-poem-you-cannot-write-a-poem/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossible-to-sharpen-a-pencil-with-a/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) [Explore all 103 Edsger Dijkstra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) ## More Competitive quotes > [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [My dad is a competitive guy. That's a part of me. It's just a certain drive, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auston-matthews/my-dad-is-a-competitive-guy-that-s-a-part-of-me-it-s-just-a-certain/) [Auston Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auston-matthews/) > [I was a serious competitive figure skater and still ice-skate as much as I can. Anyway, I once brought a date to the rink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-serratos/i-was-a-serious-competitive-figure-skater-and-still-ice-skate-as-much/) [Christian Serratos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-serratos/) > [Don't compare your career to anyone else's. It's tough when you're in a business that's competitive. I was having a difficult time with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-brooks/don-t-compare-your-career-to-anyone-else-s-it-s-tough-when-you-re-in/) [Danielle Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-brooks/) > [In any competitive environment, whether you're in sales or marketing or whatever it is, you have to know your competition, understand who they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-moses/in-any-competitive-environment-whether-you-re-in-sales-or-marketing/) [Edwin Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-moses/) > [I just love this sport and it's so competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-just-love-this-sport-and-it-s-so-competitive/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [Everyone must be in the same competitive situation, including on the fiscal level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/everyone-must-be-in-the-same-competitive-situation-including-on-the/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [I've always been competitive and determined. It's part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-always-been-competitive-and-determined-it-s-part-of-my/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [Uruguayans are competitive, and we always want to win. Even though we try to hide it, it is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-godin/uruguayans-are-competitive-and-we-always-want-to-win-even-though-we/) [Diego Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-godin/) > [I'm quite competitive. Not with other models but with myself. I have to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arizona-muse/i-m-quite-competitive-not-with-other-models-but-with-myself-i-have-to/) [Arizona Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arizona-muse/) > [I'll miss the competitive side and the camaraderie of being around the players and competing each and every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-ll-miss-the-competitive-side-and-the-camaraderie-of-being-around/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [We always want to see each other do well. And I think we all want to win. As competitive as you are, you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-brown/we-always-want-to-see-each-other-do-well-and-i-think-we-all-want-to/) [Antonio Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-brown/) > [Any physical practice can be a competitive sport. What level you can take postures to create the maximum challenge and show your maximum skill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajashree-choudhury/any-physical-practice-can-be-a-competitive-sport-what-level-you-can/) [Rajashree Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajashree-choudhury/) [Browse all 1,008 Competitive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But excellence is a competitive notion, and that is not what we are heading for: we are heading for perfection.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edsger Dijkstra" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-explicitly-because-these-days/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Competitive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-explicitly-because-these-days/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/edsger-dijkstra-5102_competitive_i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-e_1501540.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/edsger-dijkstra-5102_competitive_i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-e_1501540.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/edsger-dijkstra-5102_competitive_i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-e_1501540.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept…” — Edsger Dijkstra", "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": "Edsger Dijkstra", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-explicitly-because-these-days/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/i-mentioned-the-non-competitive-spirit-explicitly-because-these-days/#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 } } ] } ```