--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Excellence isn't achieved without…" description: "\"Excellence isn't achieved without inspiration and perspiration. You've got to have both.\" — George Foreman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/george-foreman-2028_excellence_excellence-isn-t-achieved-without-inspir_2456807.png" --- # Excellence isn't achieved without inspiration and… ![“Excellence isn't achieved without inspiration and perspiration. You've got to have both.” quote by George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/george-foreman-2028_excellence_excellence-isn-t-achieved-without-inspir_2456807.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/george-foreman-2028_excellence_excellence-isn-t-achieved-without-inspir_2456807.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/george-foreman-2028_excellence_excellence-isn-t-achieved-without-inspir_2456807.png) > “Excellence isn't achieved without inspiration and perspiration. You've got to have both.” [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires both creative ideas and hard work; inspiration sparks effort, perspiration sustains it. **In simple terms:** Both ideas and effort needed for success. Key Takeaway Combine vision with diligent work. Themes motivation hard work creativity Mood determined optimistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - starting a business - training for a sport - writing a book - learning a skill Key Concepts Inspiration effort discipline Questions to Reflect On - What inspires you most? - How do you maintain effort when motivation wanes? A Different Perspective Without inspiration, effort may feel pointless; without effort, ideas remain unrealized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) ## Related quotes > [I think there is less of inspiration and more of perspiration in the music industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajesh-roshan/i-think-there-is-less-of-inspiration-and-more-of-perspiration-in-the/) [Rajesh Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajesh-roshan/) > [There are three things that make a person a writer: inspiration, perspiration and desperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/there-are-three-things-that-make-a-person-a-writer-inspiration/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [We get new ideas from God every hour of our day when we put our trust in Him -- but we have to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-e-cliffe/we-get-new-ideas-from-god-every-hour-of-our-day-when-we-put-our-trust/) [Albert E Cliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-e-cliffe/) > [Genius is not inspired. Inspiration is perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-is-not-inspired-inspiration-is-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Inspiration without perspiration leads to frustration and stagnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bright/inspiration-without-perspiration-leads-to-frustration-and-stagnation/) [Bill Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bright/) > [Innovation = Inspiration + Perspiration + Perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-roman-riquelme/innovation-inspiration-perspiration-perseverance/) [Juan Roman Riquelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-roman-riquelme/) > [To create great work, here's how you must spend your time: 1% Inspiration 9% Perspiration 90% Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/to-create-great-work-here-s-how-you-must-spend-your-time-1/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [“Life is three hours journey; childhood, adulthood & old-hood; filled with inspiration, perspiration and desperation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/life-is-three-hours-journey-childhood-adulthood-old-hood-filled-with/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) > [It's true when they say songwriting is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. In truth, what happens is... songs comes through you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lake/it-s-true-when-they-say-songwriting-is-10-inspiration-and-90/) [Greg Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lake/) > [Invention is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/invention-is-10-inspiration-and-90-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [People often say that writing is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration. This is nonsense, of course. It's pretty much one hundred percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caprice-crane/people-often-say-that-writing-is-ten-percent-inspiration-and-ninety/) [Caprice Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caprice-crane/) > [There are many troubles which you cannot cure by the Bible and the hymn-book, but which you can cure by a good perspiration and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-are-many-troubles-which-you-cannot-cure-by-the-bible-and-the/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [In Roslyn, Pennsylvania, we started our real-life family circus. They provided the inspiration for my cartoons. I provided the perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bil-keane/in-roslyn-pennsylvania-we-started-our-real-life-family-circus-they/) [Bil Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bil-keane/) > [Most, if not all, creativity is born out of perspiration rather than inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaine-hogan/most-if-not-all-creativity-is-born-out-of-perspiration-rather-than/) [Blaine Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaine-hogan/) ## More by George Foreman > [Money is a good thing, but every morning you have to get up with something no one else in the world gets up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/money-is-a-good-thing-but-every-morning-you-have-to-get-up-with/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [I love the pigeons. I just raise them, period, and feed them. Pigeons go away, and they always come back. You get a touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-love-the-pigeons-i-just-raise-them-period-and-feed-them-pigeons-go/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [I wanted to be champ of the world, but I kept hoping something would happen to Frazier. I didn't want to fight him. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-wanted-to-be-champ-of-the-world-but-i-kept-hoping-something-would/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [A boxer never sees the big one that hits him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/a-boxer-never-sees-the-big-one-that-hits-him/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [The question isn't at what age I want to retire, it's at what income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/the-question-isn-t-at-what-age-i-want-to-retire-it-s-at-what-income/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [Everybody wants to be somebody. The thing you have to do is give them confidence they can. You have to give a kid a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/everybody-wants-to-be-somebody-the-thing-you-have-to-do-is-give-them/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [I wanted to be the best street fighter in Houston, Texas. And I thought if I got a trophy or two, I'd go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-wanted-to-be-the-best-street-fighter-in-houston-texas-and-i-thought/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [The wealthy class often looks down on the poor as "those people." And deprived people view the rich as cold and heartless. The way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/the-wealthy-class-often-looks-down-on-the-poor-as-those-people-and/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [Preaching is the most original thing I've ever done. There's nothing familiar about it. You have to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/preaching-is-the-most-original-thing-i-ve-ever-done-there-s-nothing/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [Oh, there's nothing more dangerous in life at getting hurt at than love itself. People are hurt in love affairs and never recover, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/oh-there-s-nothing-more-dangerous-in-life-at-getting-hurt-at-than/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [If you can maintain that integrity in whatever you do, you can't go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/if-you-can-maintain-that-integrity-in-whatever-you-do-you-can-t-go/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [Let the other guy have whatever he wants before the fight. Once the bell rings he's gonna be disappointed anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/let-the-other-guy-have-whatever-he-wants-before-the-fight-once-the/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [I feel that I had been rescued from the gutter by America. One day I was under the gutter, chased by police, thinking dogs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-feel-that-i-had-been-rescued-from-the-gutter-by-america-one-day-i/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [If you want it, leave your excuses behind and come and get it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/if-you-want-it-leave-your-excuses-behind-and-come-and-get-it/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [The greatest asset, even in this country, is not oil and gas. It's integrity. Everyone is searching for it, asking, 'Who can I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/the-greatest-asset-even-in-this-country-is-not-oil-and-gas-it-s/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) [Explore all 190 George Foreman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) ## 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 > [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": "Excellence isn't achieved without inspiration and perspiration. 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