--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to pursue excellence one must…" description: "\"“In order to pursue excellence one must recognize mediocrity.”\" — Geoffroy Birtz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/geoffroy-birtz-50101_excellence_in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-r_2866536.jpg" --- # In order to pursue excellence one must recognize mediocrity. ![“In order to pursue excellence one must recognize mediocrity.” quote by Geoffroy Birtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/geoffroy-birtz-50101_excellence_in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-r_2866536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/geoffroy-birtz-50101_excellence_in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-r_2866536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/geoffroy-birtz-50101_excellence_in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-r_2866536.jpg) > ““In order to pursue excellence one must recognize mediocrity.”” [Geoffroy Birtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffroy-birtz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence requires acknowledging and confronting mediocrity within oneself **In simple terms:** To achieve excellence, one must recognize mediocrity Key Takeaway Identify mediocrity to pursue excellence Themes self‑development ethics performance leadership psychology Mood inspired serious Type educational motivational When to use this quote - career planning - education - team management - personal coaching Key Concepts self‑assessment continuous improvement goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How can one acknowledge mediocrity without losing confidence? - What tools help maintain a growth mindset? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can be demotivating if not balanced ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Excellence Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence-recognize-3898829/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Pursue Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-excellence-1961595/) [Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize/) [Recognize Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize-mediocrity-3898828/) ## Related quotes > [Demand perfection of yourself and you'll seldom attain it. Fear of making a mistake is the biggest single cause of making one. Relax -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-winter/demand-perfection-of-yourself-and-you-ll-seldom-attain-it-fear-of/) [Lloyd Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-winter/) > [Pursue excellence and ignore success. If you are excellent you will be successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/pursue-excellence-and-ignore-success-if-you-are-excellent-you-will-be/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [In a person's career, well, if you're process-oriented and not totally outcome-oriented, then you're more likely to be success. I often say 'pursue excellence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/in-a-person-s-career-well-if-you-re-process-oriented-and-not-totally/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Force your kids to pursue success and they shall be drowned into the abyss of characterlessness, but let them pursue excellence and they shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/force-your-kids-to-pursue-success-and-they-shall-be-drowned-into-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [It takes more energy to maintain mediocrity than it takes to pursue excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/it-takes-more-energy-to-maintain-mediocrity-than-it-takes-to-pursue/) [Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/) > [In an ideal world, nobody's work would be just about the money. People could pursue excellence in what they do, take pride in achievement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-schwartz/in-an-ideal-world-nobody-s-work-would-be-just-about-the-money-people/) [Barry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-schwartz/) > [If you focus on success, you’ll have stress. But if you pursue excellence, success will be guaranteed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/if-you-focus-on-success-you-ll-have-stress-but-if-you-pursue/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Pursue excellence; ignore success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/pursue-excellence-ignore-success/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am trying to pursue excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-leela-bhansali/i-am-trying-to-pursue-excellence/) [Sanjay Leela Bhansali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-leela-bhansali/) > [I often say 'pursue excellence, ignore success.' Success is a by-product of excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/i-often-say-pursue-excellence-ignore-success-success-is-a-by-product/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think sometimes we put too much of a gravity on what it is that we do... I just think you go out into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-drew/i-think-sometimes-we-put-too-much-of-a-gravity-on-what-it-is-that-we/) [Sarah Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-drew/) > [Mediocrity always attacks excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/mediocrity-always-attacks-excellence/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [When Americans decry our politicians, we must remember that ultimately, politicians reflect us. When we demand more than mediocrity - and the passing comforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/when-americans-decry-our-politicians-we-must-remember-that-ultimately/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) > [Once you decide that mediocrity is unthinkable, your only choices are excellence and quitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-murray/once-you-decide-that-mediocrity-is-unthinkable-your-only-choices-are/) [Nick Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-murray/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More by Geoffroy Birtz > [“Without criticism there would be no improvements.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/without-criticism-there-would-be-no-improvements/) [Geoffroy Birtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffroy-birtz/) > [“Fame must be like being a candy in a child factory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/fame-must-be-like-being-a-candy-in-a-child-factory/) [Geoffroy Birtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffroy-birtz/) > [“Nothing great is ever accomplished by following standards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/nothing-great-is-ever-accomplished-by-following-standards/) [Geoffroy Birtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffroy-birtz/) > [“Learning from other people's mistakes will avoid having to learn from your own”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/learning-from-other-people-s-mistakes-will-avoid-having-to-learn-from/) [Geoffroy Birtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffroy-birtz/) > [“It is better not to have a box rather than trying to think outside of one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/it-is-better-not-to-have-a-box-rather-than-trying-to-think-outside-of/) [Geoffroy Birtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffroy-birtz/) > [“When admiring human accomplishments we should not confuse the achievements of the few for the capacity of the many.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/when-admiring-human-accomplishments-we-should-not-confuse-the/) [Geoffroy Birtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffroy-birtz/) [Explore all 7 Geoffroy Birtz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffroy-birtz/) ## 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": "“In order to pursue excellence one must recognize mediocrity.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geoffroy Birtz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-recognize-mediocrity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-recognize-mediocrity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/geoffroy-birtz-50101_excellence_in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-r_2866536.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/geoffroy-birtz-50101_excellence_in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-r_2866536.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/geoffroy-birtz-50101_excellence_in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-r_2866536.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In order to pursue excellence one must recognize mediocrity.” — Geoffroy Birtz", "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": "Geoffroy Birtz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffroy-birtz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In order to pursue excellence one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-recognize-mediocrity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffroy-birtz/in-order-to-pursue-excellence-one-must-recognize-mediocrity/#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 } } ] } ```