--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not important to be better than…" description: "\"It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.\" — Kano Jigoro" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/kano-jigoro-23116_better_it-is-not-important-to-be-better-than-so_2676456.jpg" --- # It is not important to be better than someone else, but to… ![“It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.” quote by Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/kano-jigoro-23116_better_it-is-not-important-to-be-better-than-so_2676456.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/kano-jigoro-23116_better_it-is-not-important-to-be-better-than-so_2676456.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/kano-jigoro-23116_better_it-is-not-important-to-be-better-than-so_2676456.jpg) > “It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.” [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improvement is personal; compare yourself to your past self, not to others. **In simple terms:** Be better than yesterday, not others. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑progress. Themes self‑improvement competition mindset Mood motivated reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - training routines - career development - learning new skills Key Concepts personal goals habit tracking Questions to Reflect On - What personal metric will you improve today? - How do you celebrate incremental gains? A Different Perspective External comparison can be motivating for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-better/) [Better Than Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-than-yesterday/) [Better Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-yesterday/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-better-893675/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [“It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday. – JIGORO KANO,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-lewis/it-is-not-important-to-be-better-than-someone-else-but-to-be-better/) [Benny Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-lewis/) > [“It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than you were yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-important-to-be-better-than-someone-else-but-to-be-better-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm not interested in whether I'm better than you; only whether I'm better than yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ormsby/i-m-not-interested-in-whether-i-m-better-than-you-only-whether-i-m/) [Mike Ormsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ormsby/) > [“Do something today to make sure tomorrow is better than yesterday”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-morrow/do-something-today-to-make-sure-tomorrow-is-better-than-yesterday/) [Bill Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-morrow/) > [Believe ME, I am much better than YESTERDAY :-)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yumilee/believe-me-i-am-much-better-than-yesterday/) [Yumilee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yumilee/) > [I wake up every morning believing today is going to be better than yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-wake-up-every-morning-believing-today-is-going-to-be-better-than/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [For me, what is more important is to get better and better every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-shankar/for-me-what-is-more-important-is-to-get-better-and-better-every-day/) [Vijay Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-shankar/) > [“You can do this. Everyday has been a little easier than the last. Today will be better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-allen/you-can-do-this-everyday-has-been-a-little-easier-than-the-last-today/) [Heather Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-allen/) > [God is Good because each day he wakes me up to live again, so that means he trusts me to become better than yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/god-is-good-because-each-day-he-wakes-me-up-to-live-again-so-that/) [Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/) > [Today has definitely been better than yesterday. We are having to do a little bit of sweeping but it is generally not too bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-block/today-has-definitely-been-better-than-yesterday-we-are-having-to-do-a/) [Ken Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-block/) > [“Whenever I schedule an appointment, my general rule of thumb is, tomorrow is better than yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/whenever-i-schedule-an-appointment-my-general-rule-of-thumb-is/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I hate nostalgia. Today is always better than yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-berge/i-hate-nostalgia-today-is-always-better-than-yesterday/) [Pierre Berge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-berge/) > [Rather than aiming to be perfect, just aim to be better than yesterday and thats good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rather-than-aiming-to-be-perfect-just-aim-to-be-better-than-yesterday/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Not knowing what the future hold, is the beauty and mystery of the world we know, at some point today is better than yesterday,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/not-knowing-what-the-future-hold-is-the-beauty-and-mystery-of-the/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Live today like there's no tomorrow and make it even better than yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/live-today-like-there-s-no-tomorrow-and-make-it-even-better-than/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) ## More by Kano Jigoro > [Walk a single path, becoming neither cocky with victory nor broken with defeat, without forgetting caution when all is quiet or becoming frightened when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/walk-a-single-path-becoming-neither-cocky-with-victory-nor-broken/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [There are people who are excitable by nature and allow themselves to become angry for the most trivial of reasons. Judo can help such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/there-are-people-who-are-excitable-by-nature-and-allow-themselves-to/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Before and after practicing Judo or engaging in a match, opponents bow to each other. Bowing is an expression of gratitude and respect. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/before-and-after-practicing-judo-or-engaging-in-a-match-opponents-bow/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [In randori, one must search out the opponent's weaknesses and be ready to attack with all the resources at his disposal the moment the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/in-randori-one-must-search-out-the-opponent-s-weaknesses-and-be-ready/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [In an argument, you may silence your opponent by pressing an advantage of strength or of wealth, or of education. But you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/in-an-argument-you-may-silence-your-opponent-by-pressing-an-advantage/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Judo is the way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength. By training you in attacks and defenses it refines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/judo-is-the-way-to-the-most-effective-use-of-both-physical-and/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Judo is a study of techniques with which you may kill if you wish to kill, injure if you wish to injure, subdue if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/judo-is-a-study-of-techniques-with-which-you-may-kill-if-you-wish-to/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Judo should be free as art and science from any external influences, political, national, racial, and financial or any other organized interest. And all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/judo-should-be-free-as-art-and-science-from-any-external-influences/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Nothing under the sun is greater than education. By educating one person and sending him into the society of his generation, we make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/nothing-under-the-sun-is-greater-than-education-by-educating-one/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Judo helps us to understand that worry is a waste of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/judo-helps-us-to-understand-that-worry-is-a-waste-of-energy/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Face your fear, empty yourself, trust your own voice, let go of control, have faith in outcomes, connect with a larger purpose, derive meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/face-your-fear-empty-yourself-trust-your-own-voice-let-go-of-control/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [In Randori we teach the pupil to act on the fundamental principles of Judo, no matter how physically inferior his opponent may seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/in-randori-we-teach-the-pupil-to-act-on-the-fundamental-principles-of/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Apply just the right amount of force — never too much, never too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/apply-just-the-right-amount-of-force-never-too-much-never-too-little/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Paradoxically, the man who has failed and one who is at the peak of success are in exactly the same position. Each must decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and-one-who-is-at-the-peak-of/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [The purpose of the study of judo is to perfect yourself and to contribute to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/the-purpose-of-the-study-of-judo-is-to-perfect-yourself-and-to/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) [Explore all 26 Kano Jigoro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) ## More Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. 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I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/) [Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/) [Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/) > [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/) [Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [I never really look at it past one year. 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