--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you look up the definition of…" description: "\"If you look up the definition of greatness in the dictionary, it will say Michael Jordan.\" — Elgin Baylor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/elgin-baylor-70640_basketball_if-you-look-up-the-definition-of-greatne_158316.jpg" --- # If you look up the definition of greatness in the… ![“If you look up the definition of greatness in the dictionary, it will say Michael Jordan.” quote by Elgin Baylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/elgin-baylor-70640_basketball_if-you-look-up-the-definition-of-greatne_158316.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/elgin-baylor-70640_basketball_if-you-look-up-the-definition-of-greatne_158316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/elgin-baylor-70640_basketball_if-you-look-up-the-definition-of-greatne_158316.jpg) > “If you look up the definition of greatness in the dictionary, it will say Michael Jordan.” Elgin Baylor ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness is often defined by iconic figures like Michael Jordan, illustrating how society uses exemplars to set standards. **In simple terms:** Greatness is linked to iconic examples. Key Takeaway Recognize role models in defining excellence. Themes achievement excellence role models culture Mood admiring inspirational Type motivational cultural When to use this quote - sports training - leadership development - public speaking Key Concepts iconicity benchmarking inspiration Questions to Reflect On - Who are other examples of greatness? - How can we broaden criteria for success? A Different Perspective Overreliance on single icons can limit diverse definitions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) ## Related quotes > [Not only do I admire Jordan's accomplishments and his phenomenal basketball ability, but also the way he has conducted himself on and off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elgin-baylor/not-only-do-i-admire-jordan-s-accomplishments-and-his-phenomenal/) Elgin Baylor > [He who is greatest among you shall be a servant. That's the new definition of greatness. ... By giving that definition of greatness, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/he-who-is-greatest-among-you-shall-be-a-servant-that-s-the-new/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [If you want to be important-wonderful. If you want to be recognized-wonderful. If you want to be great-wonderful. But recognize that he who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-you-want-to-be-important-wonderful-if-you-want-to-be-recognized/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Earl "The Goat" Manigault was probably the greatest basketball player of all time, but Michael Jordan is universally regarded as the best ever. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/earl-the-goat-manigault-was-probably-the-greatest-basketball-player/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [Eddie Murphy was the Michael Jordan of comedy. He had a full range of abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aries-spears/eddie-murphy-was-the-michael-jordan-of-comedy-he-had-a-full-range-of/) [Aries Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aries-spears/) > [But it goes without saying that Michael Jordan could never date Pamela Anderson. That would cause the apocalypse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/but-it-goes-without-saying-that-michael-jordan-could-never-date/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [I was a big Michael Jordan fan growing up. I don't feel my game resembles his though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/i-was-a-big-michael-jordan-fan-growing-up-i-don-t-feel-my-game/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [As brilliant an individual that Michael Jordan was, he was not successful until he got with a good team unit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/as-brilliant-an-individual-that-michael-jordan-was-he-was-not/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [Team sports, there's always some kind of sacrifice happening... 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There really isn't anybody in the world I'm impressed with. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-duncan/i-m-just-somebody-that-isn-t-that-impressed-by-michael-jordan-there/) [Tim Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-duncan/) > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More by Elgin Baylor > [Every time you compete, try harder to improve on your last performance. Give nothing short of your very best effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elgin-baylor/every-time-you-compete-try-harder-to-improve-on-your-last-performance/) Elgin Baylor > [Not only do I admire Jordan's accomplishments and his phenomenal basketball ability, but also the way he has conducted himself on and off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elgin-baylor/not-only-do-i-admire-jordan-s-accomplishments-and-his-phenomenal/) Elgin Baylor > [Coaching is easy. Winning is the hard part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elgin-baylor/coaching-is-easy-winning-is-the-hard-part/) Elgin Baylor Explore all 4 Elgin Baylor quotes ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. 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