---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be the best, not necessarily the original."
description: "\"Be the best, not necessarily the original.\" — I. M. Pei"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/i-m-pei-21076_being-the-best_be-the-best-not-necessarily-the-original_2597534.png"
---

#  Be the best, not necessarily the original.

![“Be the best, not necessarily the original.” quote by I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/i-m-pei-21076_being-the-best_be-the-best-not-necessarily-the-original_2597534.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/i-m-pei-21076_being-the-best_be-the-best-not-necessarily-the-original_2597534.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/i-m-pei-21076_being-the-best_be-the-best-not-necessarily-the-original_2597534.png)

> “Be the best, not necessarily the original.”

[I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-pei/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Strive for excellence in execution, not merely originality; quality surpasses novelty

**In simple terms:** Be excellent, not just original

Key Takeaway

Focus on superior execution over novelty

Themes

design excellence originality

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

design philosophical

When to use this quote

- product design
- artistic practice
- innovation workshops

Key Concepts

architectural theory creative process quality standards

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance originality with excellence?
- What defines excellence in your field?

A Different Perspective

Originality without quality is hollow

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