--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never try to be better than anyone else…" description: "\"“Never try to be better than anyone else, but never cease to be the best you can be. That’s achievement.”\" — John Wooden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/john-wooden-420_achievement_never-try-to-be-better-than-anyone-else_788677.png" --- # Never try to be better than anyone else, but never cease… ![“Never try to be better than anyone else, but never cease to be the best you can be. That’s achievement.” quote by John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/john-wooden-420_achievement_never-try-to-be-better-than-anyone-else_788677.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/john-wooden-420_achievement_never-try-to-be-better-than-anyone-else_788677.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/john-wooden-420_achievement_never-try-to-be-better-than-anyone-else_788677.png) > ““Never try to be better than anyone else, but never cease to be the best you can be. That’s achievement.”” [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages personal excellence without comparison, focusing on self‑improvement as the true measure of achievement. **In simple terms:** Be your best self, not better than others. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑growth. Themes self‑improvement excellence competition achievement Mood inspirational determined reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - sports coaching - career development - personal goals - education Key Concepts personal development mindset intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure progress without comparing? - What habits help you become your best? A Different Perspective May ignore valuable external benchmarks that can guide growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Being you is the best achievement ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-you-is-the-best-achievement-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never try to be better than someone else. Learn from others, and try to be the best you can be. Success is the by-product…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/never-try-to-be-better-than-someone-else-learn-from-others-and-try-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [You should never try to be better than someone else, you should always be learning from others. But you should never cease trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/you-should-never-try-to-be-better-than-someone-else-you-should-always/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Never try to be better than somebody else. But most importantly, never cease trying to be the best you can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/never-try-to-be-better-than-somebody-else-but-most-importantly-never/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Never try to be better than someone else. Learn from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/never-try-to-be-better-than-someone-else-learn-from-others/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The best competition I have is against myself to become better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/the-best-competition-i-have-is-against-myself-to-become-better/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I'm not afraid of changing something to try to be better at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-korver/i-m-not-afraid-of-changing-something-to-try-to-be-better-at-it/) [Kyle Korver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-korver/) > [“I don't want to hurt you or anybody so please forget about me. Just try. Find yourself a better friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/i-don-t-want-to-hurt-you-or-anybody-so-please-forget-about-me-just/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [Whatever you do, you want to focus on the little things. Try to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sony-michel/whatever-you-do-you-want-to-focus-on-the-little-things-try-to-get/) [Sony Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sony-michel/) > [I can be shy, but I’m not really. I try to be better at overcoming these things people have said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-whishaw/i-can-be-shy-but-i-m-not-really-i-try-to-be-better-at-overcoming/) [Ben Whishaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-whishaw/) > [“Never be scared of how big your dreams are, work hard to make them true and if you fail it's not the end,try again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neira-bouzgarrou/never-be-scared-of-how-big-your-dreams-are-work-hard-to-make-them/) Neira Bouzgarrou > [I'm going to be a better actor, or I'm going to try to be a better actor. I'm going to try to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-kirke/i-m-going-to-be-a-better-actor-or-i-m-going-to-try-to-be-a-better/) [Lola Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-kirke/) > [Dont bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. ¨Try to be better than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-bother-just-to-be-better-than-your-contemporaries-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [None of us is perfect, but the point of our writing is to try to become better, to learn something that we may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-l-dumm/none-of-us-is-perfect-but-the-point-of-our-writing-is-to-try-to/) [Thomas L. Dumm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-l-dumm/) > [I would tell kids not be like me, but to try and be better than me. Because I always wanted to be better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-would-tell-kids-not-be-like-me-but-to-try-and-be-better-than-me/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) ## More by John Wooden > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it. -John wooden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-so-important-who-starts-the-game-but-who-finishes-it-john/) [John wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“I remain convinced to this day that compassion like that—sincerely caring for your players and maintaining an active interest in their lives, concerns, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-remain-convinced-to-this-day-that-compassion-like-that-sincerely/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/being-a-role-model-is-the-most-powerful-form-of-educating-too-often/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Each of us has a huge capacity to learn and to achieve. Being ever alert makes the task of becoming all we are capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/each-of-us-has-a-huge-capacity-to-learn-and-to-achieve-being-ever/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. Persevere relentlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/stay-the-course-when-thwarted-try-again-harder-smarter-persevere/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Love is the most powerful four letter word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/love-is-the-most-powerful-four-letter-word/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The best competition I have is against myself to become better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/the-best-competition-i-have-is-against-myself-to-become-better/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, the habits you are developing now will be with you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/whether-you-know-it-or-not-whether-you-like-it-or-not-the-habits-you/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Intensity makes you stronger. Emotionalism makes you weaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/intensity-makes-you-stronger-emotionalism-makes-you-weaker/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/reputation-is-what-others-perceive-you-as-being-and-their-opinion-may/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) [Explore all 578 John Wooden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Never try to be better than anyone else, but never cease to be the best you can be. 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