---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imitate until you emulate; match and…"
description: "\"Imitate until you emulate; match and surpass those who launched you. It's the highest form of thankfulness.\" — Mark Victor Hansen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/mark-victor-hansen-2492_appreciation_imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surp_1751908.jpg"
---

#  Imitate until you emulate; match and surpass those who…

![“Imitate until you emulate; match and surpass those who launched you. It's the highest form of thankfulness.” quote by Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/mark-victor-hansen-2492_appreciation_imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surp_1751908.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/mark-victor-hansen-2492_appreciation_imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surp_1751908.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/mark-victor-hansen-2492_appreciation_imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surp_1751908.jpg)

> “Imitate until you emulate; match and surpass those who launched you. It's the highest form of thankfulness.”

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Emulating mentors and then exceeding them shows deep gratitude and drives growth.

**In simple terms:** Copy, then improve, to honor those who helped you.

Key Takeaway

Learn, improve, thank.

Themes

gratitude growth mentorship

Mood

inspired determined

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- career development
- skill mastery
- leadership
- creative projects

Key Concepts

emulation excellence legacy

Questions to Reflect On

- Who can you emulate today?
- How will you surpass them?

A Different Perspective

May become dependent on imitation rather than original innovation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) [Being thankful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-thankful/) [Emulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emulate/) [Emulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emulation/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Form Thankfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-thankfulness-1612154/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Imitate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitate/) [Imitate Emulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitate-emulate-1612155/) [Imitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitation/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Matching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matching/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Superiority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superiority/) [Supremacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supremacy/) [Surpassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surpassing/) [Thankful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankful/) [Thankfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankfulness/)

## Related quotes

> [I never wanted the temptation to imitate or emulate something that had been done beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hoechlin/i-never-wanted-the-temptation-to-imitate-or-emulate-something-that/)

[Tyler Hoechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hoechlin/)

> [“Every plant, tree, and animal is a blessing and every person has a purpose for living. Courage, curiosity, and generosity produce noble spirits. Enduring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/every-plant-tree-and-animal-is-a-blessing-and-every-person-has-a/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“Leadership is an art expressed by the demonstration of characters worthy of immitation, emulation and inspiration. It is neither a title nor a postion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leadership-is-an-art-expressed-by-the-demonstration-of-characters/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [Emulation, even in brutes, is sensitively "nervous." See the tremor of the thoroughbred racer before he starts. The dray-horse does not tremble, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/emulation-even-in-brutes-is-sensitively-nervous-see-the-tremor-of-the/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [Hysteria and degeneration have always existed; but they formerly showed themselves sporadically, and had no importance in the life of the whole community. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-nordau/hysteria-and-degeneration-have-always-existed-but-they-formerly/)

[Max Nordau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-nordau/)

> [The combination of such characters, some, as the sacral ones, altogether peculiar among Reptiles, others borrowed, as it were, from groups now distinct from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-owen/the-combination-of-such-characters-some-as-the-sacral-ones-altogether/)

[Richard Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-owen/)

> [If a person measures his spiritual fulfillment in terms of cosmic visions, surpassing peace of mind, or ecstasy, then he is not likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/if-a-person-measures-his-spiritual-fulfillment-in-terms-of-cosmic/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [The economic transmission of power without wires is of all-surpassing importance to man. By its means he will gain complete mastery of the air,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/the-economic-transmission-of-power-without-wires-is-of-all-surpassing/)

[Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/)

> [The speaking will get easier and easier. And you will find you have fallen in love with your own vision, which you may never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-speaking-will-get-easier-and-easier-and-you-will-find-you-have/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [The awareness of the all-surpassing importance of social groups is now general property in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/the-awareness-of-the-all-surpassing-importance-of-social-groups-is/)

[Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/)

> [The Catholic Church has a dignity far surpassing that of every merely human society, for it was founded by Christ the Lord. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxiii/the-catholic-church-has-a-dignity-far-surpassing-that-of-every-merely/)

[Pope John XXIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxiii/)

> [I SEE thee better in the dark, I do not need a light. The love of thee a prism be Excelling violet. I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-see-thee-better-in-the-dark-i-do-not-need-a-light-the-love-of-thee/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [As usual, nature's imagination far surpasses our own, as we have seen from the other theories which are subtle and deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/as-usual-nature-s-imagination-far-surpasses-our-own-as-we-have-seen/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [Israel has military capabilities including nuclear weapons, far surpassing any other power in the Middle East, but it's a small country. The rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/israel-has-military-capabilities-including-nuclear-weapons-far/)

[Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/)

> [From the grasses in the field to the stars in the sky, each one is doing just that; and there is such profound peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/from-the-grasses-in-the-field-to-the-stars-in-the-sky-each-one-is/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

## More by Mark Victor Hansen

> [I can't fill the hole with money. I can't fill it with alcohol, or drugs, or sex, so what do I need to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/i-can-t-fill-the-hole-with-money-i-can-t-fill-it-with-alcohol-or/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [If you take the credit, you lose it. If you give away the credit, it comes back multiplied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/if-you-take-the-credit-you-lose-it-if-you-give-away-the-credit-it/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [With vision we flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/with-vision-we-flourish/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [When your self-worth goes up, your net worth goes up with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/when-your-self-worth-goes-up-your-net-worth-goes-up-with-it/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [The quality of the team determines the speed of the dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/the-quality-of-the-team-determines-the-speed-of-the-dream/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Obstacles are only in your view when you don't have a clear enough focus on your goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/obstacles-are-only-in-your-view-when-you-don-t-have-a-clear-enough/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [The system might be breaking down but something else is breaking through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/the-system-might-be-breaking-down-but-something-else-is-breaking/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Your problems are good. They are power in disguise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/your-problems-are-good-they-are-power-in-disguise/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [It's not that people want too much, it's that they want too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/it-s-not-that-people-want-too-much-it-s-that-they-want-too-little/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [This is an absolute law: You've got to be rich inside to become and remain rich outside. Become rich inside and your mental equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/this-is-an-absolute-law-you-ve-got-to-be-rich-inside-to-become-and/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [If you keep believing what you've been believing, then you'll keep achieving what you've been achieving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/if-you-keep-believing-what-you-ve-been-believing-then-you-ll-keep/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/don-t-wait-until-everything-is-just-right-it-will-never-be-perfect/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Action eradicates fear. No matter what you fear,--- positive, self-affirming action can diminish or completely cancel that which you are fearful of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/action-eradicates-fear-no-matter-what-you-fear-positive-self/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Improve your business, your life, your relationships, your finances and your health. When you do the whole world improves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/improve-your-business-your-life-your-relationships-your-finances-and/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Give bouquets of business. Introduce your clients to each other so they can work and prosper together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/give-bouquets-of-business-introduce-your-clients-to-each-other-so/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

[Explore all 162 Mark Victor Hansen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

## More Appreciation quotes

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/)

[Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/)

> [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/a-very-small-percentage-of-the-people-in-this-world-will-actually/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [Stop chasing the things you want and embrace all that you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-chasing-the-things-you-want-and-embrace-all-that-you-already-have/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Appreciation is the purest vibration that exists on the planet today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/appreciation-is-the-purest-vibration-that-exists-on-the-planet-today/)

[Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/)

> [“My thank-yous always come out rather labored. I often don't give them at all. People do what they're supposed to do and then wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/my-thank-yous-always-come-out-rather-labored-i-often-don-t-give-them/)

[Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/)

> [“Like gratitude, authentic appreciation in the workplace is a realisation that can be nurtured and accessed with daily mindful practice. By and large, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/like-gratitude-authentic-appreciation-in-the-workplace-is-a/)

[Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/)

> [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [“Recognize and appreciate little things, and enjoy what Life has to offer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/recognize-and-appreciate-little-things-and-enjoy-what-life-has-to/)

[Cesar Nikko Caharian III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/)

> [Men, when it comes to women, value diamonds and put no stock into copper. Diamonds are rare. You can find copper anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/men-when-it-comes-to-women-value-diamonds-and-put-no-stock-into/)

[Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/)

> [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/)

[Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/)

> [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

[Browse all 2,528 Appreciation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Imitate until you emulate; match and surpass those who launched you. It's the highest form of thankfulness.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mark Victor Hansen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surpass-those-who-launched-you-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Appreciation"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surpass-those-who-launched-you-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/mark-victor-hansen-2492_appreciation_imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surp_1751908.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/mark-victor-hansen-2492_appreciation_imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surp_1751908.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/mark-victor-hansen-2492_appreciation_imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surp_1751908.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Imitate until you emulate; match and surpass those who launched you. It's the highest form of thankfulness.” — Mark Victor Hansen",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mark Victor Hansen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Imitate until you emulate; match and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surpass-those-who-launched-you-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/imitate-until-you-emulate-match-and-surpass-those-who-launched-you-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
