Excellence Quote by John W. Gardner
“Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks at the 1965 National Conference on Leadership, John W. Gardner
Greatness is often given by circumstance, while true excellence must be earned by personal effort.
In simple terms: Greatness comes from outside, excellence from within.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate personal excellence.
Themes
leadership
achievement
self‑improvement
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- public service
- personal development
- team leadership
Key Concepts
excellence
agency
responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you pursue excellence without external validation?
- What habits foster personal excellence?
A Different Perspective
Excellence can be overlooked if not publicly recognized.
![“[To my enemy:] Some are great, some are born great, some have greatness thrust upon them! And then there's you.” quote by Reginald Dipwipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/063/reginald-dipwipple-78181_humorous_to-my-enemy-some-are-great-some-are-born_2096914.jpg)
