--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Commonplaceness, the surrender to the…" description: "\"Commonplaceness, the surrender to the average, that good which is not bad but still the enemy of the best - That is our besetting danger.\" — Johann Wol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_average_commonplaceness-the-surrender-to-the-ave_844854.jpg" --- # Commonplaceness, the surrender to the average, that good… ![“Commonplaceness, the surrender to the average, that good which is not bad but still the enemy of the best - That is our besetting danger.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_average_commonplaceness-the-surrender-to-the-ave_844854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_average_commonplaceness-the-surrender-to-the-ave_844854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_average_commonplaceness-the-surrender-to-the-ave_844854.jpg) > “Commonplaceness, the surrender to the average, that good which is not bad but still the enemy of the best - That is our besetting danger.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Settling for mediocrity blinds us to excellence; complacency threatens true achievement. **In simple terms:** Average comfort hinders greatness. Key Takeaway Strive beyond the ordinary. Themes excellence complacency ambition Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - career planning - artistic pursuit Key Concepts philosophical self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - What does “average” cost you? - How can you resist settling? A Different Perspective Greatness requires risk and effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average/) [Besetting Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/besetting-danger-683311/) [Commonplaceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonplaceness-683310/) [Commonplaceness Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonplaceness-surrender-683309/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Surrender Average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender-average-683312/) ## Related quotes > [... the besetting danger is not so much of embracing falsehood for truth, as of mistaking a part of the truth for the whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-besetting-danger-is-not-so-much-of-embracing-falsehood-for-truth/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Dear God, I surrender this thought to you, for I would see the miracle that lies behind it. Amen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/dear-god-i-surrender-this-thought-to-you-for-i-would-see-the-miracle/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [At the depths of that dusty soul there is nothing but abject surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/at-the-depths-of-that-dusty-soul-there-is-nothing-but-abject-surrender/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [At some point, you just learn to surrender to your path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-hadid/at-some-point-you-just-learn-to-surrender-to-your-path/) [Yolanda Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-hadid/) > [“Too many people surrender to a place of safety. That place where all they do is long to sleep so they can dream about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-fay/too-many-people-surrender-to-a-place-of-safety-that-place-where-all/) [Kim Fay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-fay/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Engaging the city around us and ministering to its needs reveal to us the remaining bastions of sin in our lives, the areas we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/engaging-the-city-around-us-and-ministering-to-its-needs-reveal-to-us/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Marriage is meant to be more about your surrender than about your satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-means/marriage-is-meant-to-be-more-about-your-surrender-than-about-your/) [Scott Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-means/) > [“Don’t surrender to the pain. Know that it’s only temporary and that perseverance is the key to freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-d-scott/don-t-surrender-to-the-pain-know-that-it-s-only-temporary-and-that/) [Jason D. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-d-scott/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Anderson sent me to give you this he said. I believe the subtext was kiss and makeup. This time I was sure I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-black/anderson-sent-me-to-give-you-this-he-said-i-believe-the-subtext-was/) [Jenna Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-black/) > [Where did I surrender, can you tell me how and when. I'm the one who's always in control. Leading with my heart like there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/where-did-i-surrender-can-you-tell-me-how-and-when-i-m-the-one-who-s/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [To serve does not mean to surrender but to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/to-serve-does-not-mean-to-surrender-but-to-share/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. 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