--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you go through the world looking for…" description: "\"“If you go through the world looking for excellence, you will find excellence. If you go through the world looking for problems you will find problems...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/joseph-o-connor-23065_excellence_if-you-go-through-the-world-looking-for_2684707.jpg" --- # If you go through the world looking for excellence, you… ![“If you go through the world looking for excellence, you will find excellence. If you go through the world looking for problems you will find problems. Or as the Arabic saying puts it, “What a piece of bread looks like depends on whether you are hungry or not”.” quote by Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/joseph-o-connor-23065_excellence_if-you-go-through-the-world-looking-for_2684707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/joseph-o-connor-23065_excellence_if-you-go-through-the-world-looking-for_2684707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/joseph-o-connor-23065_excellence_if-you-go-through-the-world-looking-for_2684707.jpg) > ““If you go through the world looking for excellence, you will find excellence. If you go through the world looking for problems you will find problems. Or as the Arabic saying puts it, “What a piece of bread looks like depends on whether you are hungry or not”.”” [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your perception shapes what you notice; seeking excellence highlights strengths, while focusing on problems emphasizes flaws. **In simple terms:** What you look for determines what you see. Key Takeaway Choose a positive focus. Themes perception mindset focus Mood thoughtful reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive bias selective attention Questions to Reflect On - How does your current focus affect your outcomes? - What can you reframe to see more opportunities? A Different Perspective If you ignore problems, they may worsen unnoticed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ## Related quotes > [There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-this-world-which-can-be/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [I was looking for excellence in any color or gender it comes in. Some of my top people are African American but not all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-was-looking-for-excellence-in-any-color-or-gender-it-comes-in-some/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [When you buy a pack of bread and skip the first bread because it looks werid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imansta/when-you-buy-a-pack-of-bread-and-skip-the-first-bread-because-it/) Imansta > [What a piece of bread looks like depends on whether you are hungry or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/what-a-piece-of-bread-looks-like-depends-on-whether-you-are-hungry-or/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Beautiful was this world, looking at it thus, without searching, thus simply, thus childlike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/beautiful-was-this-world-looking-at-it-thus-without-searching-thus/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I'm interested in machines that make you aware of the process of seeing and aware of what you do when you construct the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kentridge/i-m-interested-in-machines-that-make-you-aware-of-the-process-of/) [William Kentridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kentridge/) > [Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act if all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/whenever-you-are-to-do-a-thing-though-it-can-never-be-known-but-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-you-are-to-do-a-thing-though-it-can-never-be-known-but-to-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must not let ourselves be seen as rushing around the world looking for arguments... Nor should we let ourselves be seen as ignoring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/we-must-not-let-ourselves-be-seen-as-rushing-around-the-world-looking/) [Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/) > [“I look into the eyes of the world, and what do I see? I see the eyes of the world looking back at me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-ryals/i-look-into-the-eyes-of-the-world-and-what-do-i-see-i-see-the-eyes-of/) [R.K. Ryals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-ryals/) > [The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/the-world-is-a-looking-glass-and-gives-back-to-every-man-the/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I just wanted to say that there is so much goodness in the world. We keep looking at the terrible and diabolical things when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twinkle-khanna/i-just-wanted-to-say-that-there-is-so-much-goodness-in-the-world-we/) [Twinkle Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twinkle-khanna/) > [In looking out upon the world, we forget that the world is looking at itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-looking-out-upon-the-world-we-forget-that-the-world-is-looking-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This was, by comparison, a safe, secure, clean world. And looking at it, she thought it must be rather pleasant to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-petry/this-was-by-comparison-a-safe-secure-clean-world-and-looking-at-it/) [Ann Petry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-petry/) > [“But now, his liberated eyes stayed on this side, he saw and became aware of the visible, sought to be at home in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/but-now-his-liberated-eyes-stayed-on-this-side-he-saw-and-became/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## More by Joseph O'Connor > [It is not a matter of ends justifying means: but of the creation of new means and new ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/it-is-not-a-matter-of-ends-justifying-means-but-of-the-creation-of/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [“The English possessed as many words for stealing as the Irish had for seaweed or guilt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/the-english-possessed-as-many-words-for-stealing-as-the-irish-had-for/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [“That each man is the sum of his choices is nothing less than the truth. And each, perhaps, is also something else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/that-each-man-is-the-sum-of-his-choices-is-nothing-less-than-the/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [“...but as his father used to say when he had a few drinks taken, you couldn't expect bloody miracles when you were talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/but-as-his-father-used-to-say-when-he-had-a-few-drinks-taken-you/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [The most important thing I would learn in school was that almost everything I would learn in school would be utterly useless. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/the-most-important-thing-i-would-learn-in-school-was-that-almost/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [“They had far more in common than either realised. One was born Catholic, the other Protestant. One was born Irish, the other British. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/they-had-far-more-in-common-than-either-realised-one-was-born/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [Dublin was turning into Disneyland with super-pubs, a Purgatory open till five in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/dublin-was-turning-into-disneyland-with-super-pubs-a-purgatory-open/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [(The short story) is a form that has all the power of the novel - some would say more - but none of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/the-short-story-is-a-form-that-has-all-the-power-of-the-novel-some/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [“And if ever you wanted to quit your impatient girl truly, and our little story had to be stored away in a room that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/and-if-ever-you-wanted-to-quit-your-impatient-girl-truly-and-our/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [“Happy as a threaded needle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/happy-as-a-threaded-needle/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [I feel these days like a very large flamingo. No matter what way I turn, there is always a very large bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/i-feel-these-days-like-a-very-large-flamingo-no-matter-what-way-i/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [Everything is in the way the material is composed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/everything-is-in-the-way-the-material-is-composed/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [Politics' the polite word for antediluvian prejudices, the rags put on by enmity and tribal resentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/politics-the-polite-word-for-antediluvian-prejudices-the-rags-put-on/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [There is nothing worse than the ambitions of a talentless person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/there-is-nothing-worse-than-the-ambitions-of-a-talentless-person/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) > [If you do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got. If what you are doing is not working, do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-connor/if-you-do-what-you-ve-always-done-you-ll-always-get-what-you-ve/) [Joseph O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) [Explore all 25 Joseph O'Connor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-connor/) ## 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": "“If you go through the world looking for excellence, you will find excellence. 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