--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the mediocre are always at their…" description: "\"Only the mediocre are always at their best. If your standards are low, it is easy to meet those standards every single day, every single year. But if y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/mike-krzyzewski-2324_bars_only-the-mediocre-are-always-at-their-be_3214654.jpg" --- # Only the mediocre are always at their best. If your… ![“Only the mediocre are always at their best. If your standards are low, it is easy to meet those standards every single day, every single year. But if your standard is to be the best, there will be days when you fall short of that goal. It is okay to not win every game. The only problem would be if…” quote by Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/mike-krzyzewski-2324_bars_only-the-mediocre-are-always-at-their-be_3214654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/mike-krzyzewski-2324_bars_only-the-mediocre-are-always-at-their-be_3214654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/mike-krzyzewski-2324_bars_only-the-mediocre-are-always-at-their-be_3214654.jpg) > “Only the mediocre are always at their best. If your standards are low, it is easy to meet those standards every single day, every single year. But if your standard is to be the best, there will be days when you fall short of that goal. It is okay to not win every game. The only problem would be if you allow a loss or a failure to change your standards. Keep your standards intact, keep the bar set high, and continue to try your very best every day to meet those standards. If you do that, you can always be proud of the work that you do.” [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding high standards drives continual growth; low standards are easy but limit achievement. **In simple terms:** High standards push you to improve. Key Takeaway Maintain high expectations daily. Themes growth excellence resilience discipline motivation Mood determined inspired reflective Type advice inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - coaching - personal development - team leadership - career advancement Key Concepts self‑efficacy goal setting mindset performance psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you reset standards after a setback? - What habits keep you striving for excellence? A Different Perspective Low standards may protect ego but hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bars/) [Be proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-proud/) [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Change Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-standards-1094924/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Every single day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-single-day/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goal Okay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal-okay-5190041/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Mediocre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocre/) [Meet Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meet-standards-1075308/) [Okay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Standards Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards-low-587335/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Win Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-game/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I think if your goal is for everything to be okay, that's a mistake. To achieve that goal, the only obstacle you'd have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-think-if-your-goal-is-for-everything-to-be-okay-that-s-a-mistake-to/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“We hear how diversity and equity are about lowering standards or doing away with them altogether. If DEI initiatives do the work they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-yako/we-hear-how-diversity-and-equity-are-about-lowering-standards-or/) [Louis Yako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-yako/) > [War, I have always said, forces men to change their standards, regardless of whether their country has won or lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvatore-quasimodo/war-i-have-always-said-forces-men-to-change-their-standards/) [Salvatore Quasimodo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvatore-quasimodo/) > [I'm not competitive at all, I just don't care. I have my own standards I want to meet, but it's a very, very low…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckley/i-m-not-competitive-at-all-i-just-don-t-care-i-have-my-own-standards/) [James Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckley/) > [“item 5. It is also beyond the scope of the Standards to define the full range of supports appropriate for English language learners and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-marselle/item-5-it-is-also-beyond-the-scope-of-the-standards-to-define-the/) [Terry Marselle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-marselle/) > [If you don't meet the standards, then you don't qualify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/if-you-don-t-meet-the-standards-then-you-don-t-qualify/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [If you're the wifey type don't settle for a position that doesn't meet your standards. You deserve better and can do better. Know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-you-re-the-wifey-type-don-t-settle-for-a-position-that-doesn-t/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“And he cares nothing for their praise—men who can’t even meet their own standards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/and-he-cares-nothing-for-their-praise-men-who-can-t-even-meet-their/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [If your standards are low, you're going to stop pretty early on in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-mann/if-your-standards-are-low-you-re-going-to-stop-pretty-early-on-in-the/) [Aimee Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-mann/) > [I rather have high standards than low expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-rather-have-high-standards-than-low-expectations/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Housework is a cinch, provided your standards are low enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-neifert/housework-is-a-cinch-provided-your-standards-are-low-enough/) [Marianne Neifert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-neifert/) > [I could just punch myself in the face for having high standards but low expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-could-just-punch-myself-in-the-face-for-having-high-standards-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my life as an architect, I found that the single thing which inhibits young professionals, new students most severely, is their acceptance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/in-my-life-as-an-architect-i-found-that-the-single-thing-which/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [Have high standards for yourself, low expectations for others and even bigger dreams for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-high-standards-for-yourself-low-expectations-for-others-and-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I masturbate 'cause I'm the only one whose standards are low enough to f-k me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-masturbate-cause-i-m-the-only-one-whose-standards-are-low-enough-to/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) ## More by Mike Krzyzewski > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. 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If we win basketball games from doing that, then that's great, but I lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/that-s-what-i-do-now-i-lead-and-i-teach-if-we-win-basketball-games/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [I hated to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-hated-to-lose/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [We lost, and that's the main thing that went wrong,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/we-lost-and-that-s-the-main-thing-that-went-wrong/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Leadership is simple: Add value to people everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/leadership-is-simple-add-value-to-people-everyday/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [As teachers and coaches, we must remember that when mere winning is our only goal, we are doomed to disappointment and failure. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/as-teachers-and-coaches-we-must-remember-that-when-mere-winning-is/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [I don't think we surprise people. We try to out-execute them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-think-we-surprise-people-we-try-to-out-execute-them/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [A common mistake among those who work in sport is spending a disproportional amount of time on "x's and o's" as compared to time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/a-common-mistake-among-those-who-work-in-sport-is-spending-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [If you set up an atmosphere of community and trust, it becomes a tradition. 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I also try and start the day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-rampone/while-traveling-i-love-granola-bars-trail-mix-nuts-dry-cereal-and/) [Christie Rampone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-rampone/) > [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader & an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/) [Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/) > [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/) [W. C. 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We wait, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/history-is-the-heavy-traffic-that-prevents-us-from-crossing-the-road/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) [Browse all 1,768 Bars quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bars/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only the mediocre are always at their best. If your standards are low, it is easy to meet those standards every single day, every single year. But if your standard is to be the best, there will be days when you fall short of that goal. It is okay to not win every game. The only problem would be if you allow a loss or a failure to change your standards. Keep your standards intact, keep the bar set high, and continue to try your very best every day to meet those standards. 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