Centre Quote by Michael Faraday
“A centre of excellence is, by definition, a place where second class people may perform first class work.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown, attributed to Michael Faraday, 19th century
Excellence can arise when talented individuals work in environments that may not be prestigious, producing high‑quality results.
In simple terms: Great work can happen anywhere with skilled people.
Key Takeaway
Focus on talent, not prestige.
Themes
excellence
talent
environment
class
performance
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- start‑ups
- non‑profit projects
- educational programs
Key Concepts
social hierarchy
meritocracy
organizational culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you foster excellence in low‑status settings?
- What barriers do class perceptions create?
A Different Perspective
Prestige can still affect resources and perception, limiting impact.
![“[The Utopia of Rules] should offer a challenge to us all. Should we just accept this bureaucracy as inevitable? Or is there a way to get rid of all those hours spent listening to bad call-centre music? Do policemen, academics, teachers and doctors really need to spend half their time filling in…” quote by Gillian Tett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/223/gillian-tett-57286_accepting_the-utopia-of-rules-should-offer-a-chall_39418.jpg)
