--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't be prideful with any excellence…" description: "\"Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/epictetus-413_excellence_don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-th_39182.jpg" --- # Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own ![“Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/epictetus-413_excellence_don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-th_39182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/epictetus-413_excellence_don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-th_39182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/epictetus-413_excellence_don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-th_39182.jpg) > “Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reminds us not to boast about achievements that stem from external factors or other people's work, emphasizing personal responsibility for true merit. **In simple terms:** Avoid claiming credit for others' successes. Key Takeaway Own your own achievements. Themes humility personal responsibility integrity self-awareness Mood reflective serene Type maxim philosophical When to use this quote - team projects - collaborative research - family achievements Key Concepts excellence pride authenticity Practical Applications - leadership coaching - ethical training Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between shared and personal success? - What habits help you stay humble? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Don Prideful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-prideful-450661/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Prideful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prideful/) [Prideful Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prideful-excellence-450660/) ## Related quotes > [“Overcome the prideful need to measure your worth by how much more successful you are than others, by operating from a core belief grounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/overcome-the-prideful-need-to-measure-your-worth-by-how-much-more/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [I've learned that I don't take 'no' as an answer. I'm very competitive; I'm very prideful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-brown/i-ve-learned-that-i-don-t-take-no-as-an-answer-i-m-very-competitive-i/) [Kane Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-brown/) > [“The greatest men are the ones that realize they are not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-greatest-men-are-the-ones-that-realize-they-are-not/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Growing up, I didn't have a lot and always wanted things. But I was too prideful to ask for anything; I always worked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demar-derozan/growing-up-i-didn-t-have-a-lot-and-always-wanted-things-but-i-was-too/) [DeMar DeRozan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demar-derozan/) > [“Pride is a very dangerous disease that can turn your talent, asset, and achievements into a handicap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzoma-nnadi/pride-is-a-very-dangerous-disease-that-can-turn-your-talent-asset-and/) [Uzoma Nnadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzoma-nnadi/) > [“Prideful people are defensive, angry, blame-shifting, and focused on self. They consistently see that the problem lies not with them, but with everyone else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/prideful-people-are-defensive-angry-blame-shifting-and-focused-on/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“Humanity has many shortcomings, but none is stronger than pride.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/humanity-has-many-shortcomings-but-none-is-stronger-than-pride/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [“Pride is a human nature and it's good for people to be proud of themselves, achievements, etc. but too much of anything is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzoma-nnadi/pride-is-a-human-nature-and-it-s-good-for-people-to-be-proud-of/) [Uzoma Nnadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzoma-nnadi/) > [“My rather arrogant attitude deludes me into believing that my ability to understand something is the criteria for its legitimacy. And if there’s one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/my-rather-arrogant-attitude-deludes-me-into-believing-that-my-ability/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I hope I don't have a big ego. I try to keep that in check. But I am a prideful person, I will say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-maines/i-hope-i-don-t-have-a-big-ego-i-try-to-keep-that-in-check-but-i-am-a/) [Natalie Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-maines/) > [“Because suffering was a part of life, and without it you grew prideful and full of ego.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-mayer/because-suffering-was-a-part-of-life-and-without-it-you-grew-prideful/) [Shannon Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-mayer/) > [It is possible to become so prideful and haughty that a person doesn't even recognize his or her own pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-williams/it-is-possible-to-become-so-prideful-and-haughty-that-a-person-doesn/) [Craig Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-williams/) > [“Murph took his shot and dropped the bastard right out of the tree. then he stood. "I'm an American soldier, you son of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-marton/murph-took-his-shot-and-dropped-the-bastard-right-out-of-the-tree/) [Dana Marton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-marton/) > [I'm a prideful person when it comes to competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lewis/i-m-a-prideful-person-when-it-comes-to-competition/) [Ray Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lewis/) > [“Participation awards are for children and a leader should never accept one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler/participation-awards-are-for-children-and-a-leader-should-never/) [Donavan Nelson Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [It was the first and most striking characteristic of Socrates never to become heated in discourse, never to utter an injurious or insulting word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/it-was-the-first-and-most-striking-characteristic-of-socrates-never/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## 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": "Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/epictetus-413_excellence_don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-th_39182.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/epictetus-413_excellence_don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-th_39182.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/epictetus-413_excellence_don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-th_39182.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own” — Epictetus", "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": "Epictetus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't be prideful with any excellence...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/#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 } } ] } ```