--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really reject that kind of comparison…" description: "\"I really reject that kind of comparison that says, Oh, he is the best. This is the second best. There is no such thing.\" — Mikhail Baryshnikov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_comparison_i-really-reject-that-kind-of-comparison_2531173.png" --- # I really reject that kind of comparison that says, Oh, he… ![“I really reject that kind of comparison that says, Oh, he is the best. This is the second best. There is no such thing.” quote by Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_comparison_i-really-reject-that-kind-of-comparison_2531173.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_comparison_i-really-reject-that-kind-of-comparison_2531173.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_comparison_i-really-reject-that-kind-of-comparison_2531173.png) > “I really reject that kind of comparison that says, Oh, he is the best. This is the second best. There is no such thing.” [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comparisons that rank artists diminish the uniqueness of each, and the notion of a “second best” is meaningless. **In simple terms:** Ranking artists is pointless; each is uniquely valuable. Key Takeaway Avoid ranking; appreciate individual artistry. Themes art comparison individuality excellence Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - art criticism - performance reviews - educational settings Key Concepts Subjectivity creative expression valuation Questions to Reflect On - Why is ranking artists harmful? - How can we celebrate talent without hierarchy? A Different Perspective Ranking can sometimes motivate improvement, though it may also foster competition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-second-981112/) [Comparison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) [Comparison Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison-says-1344150/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Really Reject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-reject-1344151/) [Second best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-best/) ## Related quotes > [“We all want to be the best at something. Trouble is, some people are only the best at being second best. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-all-want-to-be-the-best-at-something-trouble-is-some-people-are/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“You've just got to accept that your first love is your greatest, and everything else is going to be second-best. But second-best is better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/you-ve-just-got-to-accept-that-your-first-love-is-your-greatest-and/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [You are the only you ... You are the best you. You will always be the second best anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-the-only-you-you-are-the-best-you-you-will-always-be-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter what you do, give it everything you have. Be the best, not the second best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/no-matter-what-you-do-give-it-everything-you-have-be-the-best-not-the/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [“You just have to accept that your first love is your greatest, and everything else is going to be second best. But second-best is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/you-just-have-to-accept-that-your-first-love-is-your-greatest-and/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [Voters, I think, in many ways, have begun to really reject the system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/voters-i-think-in-many-ways-have-begun-to-really-reject-the-system/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I can think of nothing more soul destroying in life than to persist in trying to do a thing you want desperately to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-can-think-of-nothing-more-soul-destroying-in-life-than-to-persist/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Learn from the best; the second raters have nothing to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/learn-from-the-best-the-second-raters-have-nothing-to-offer/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [The second best thing which can done wid ur lips is smile!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja/the-second-best-thing-which-can-done-wid-ur-lips-is-smile/) [Pooja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja/) > [If loneliness was a choice, what was the other option? To settle for second-best and try to be happy with that? And was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/if-loneliness-was-a-choice-what-was-the-other-option-to-settle-for/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I like winning and hate being second best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-like-winning-and-hate-being-second-best/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [Falling in love with you was the second best thing that has ever happened to me...finding you was the first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daley/falling-in-love-with-you-was-the-second-best-thing-that-has-ever/) [Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daley/) > [The first best thing that happened to me was when I met you. The second best was when one of us proposed and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyt-nirmal/the-first-best-thing-that-happened-to-me-was-when-i-met-you-the/) [NYT/Nirmal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyt-nirmal/) > [There is only one real sin and that is to persuade oneself that the second best is anything but second best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/there-is-only-one-real-sin-and-that-is-to-persuade-oneself-that-the/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“He wants to dream like a young man with the wisdom of a old man, he wants his home and securities, he wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/he-wants-to-dream-like-a-young-man-with-the-wisdom-of-a-old-man-he/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) ## More by Mikhail Baryshnikov > [I am not the first straight dancer or the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-am-not-the-first-straight-dancer-or-the-last/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Working is living to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/working-is-living-to-me/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I was always interested in photography and other forms of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-was-always-interested-in-photography-and-other-forms-of-art/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [In the second part of life you get rid of stuff you've accumulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/in-the-second-part-of-life-you-get-rid-of-stuff-you-ve-accumulated/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [You don't measure life by receiving awards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/you-don-t-measure-life-by-receiving-awards/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/no-one-is-born-a-dancer-you-have-to-want-it-more-than-anything/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I want to do exactly what I want to do. I'd rather gamble on the box office than beg for a grant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-want-to-do-exactly-what-i-want-to-do-i-d-rather-gamble-on-the-box/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I always had a kind of strange relationship with New York City, with total love affair in the beginning then retreat during the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-always-had-a-kind-of-strange-relationship-with-new-york-city-with/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Running a company is pretty demanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/running-a-company-is-pretty-demanding/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I like the most provocative and most surprising partnerships on stage. Intensity and surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-like-the-most-provocative-and-most-surprising-partnerships-on-stage/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [When a body moves, it's the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I'll tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/when-a-body-moves-it-s-the-most-revealing-thing-dance-for-me-a-minute/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I - you know, I'm not an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-you-know-i-m-not-an-actor/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [If your only dance experience is the Nutcracker, it will be a shock; hopefully shocking in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/if-your-only-dance-experience-is-the-nutcracker-it-will-be-a-shock/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [People dance at any age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/people-dance-at-any-age/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-do-not-try-to-dance-better-than-anyone-else-i-only-try-to-to-dance/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) [Explore all 128 Mikhail Baryshnikov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) ## More Comparison quotes > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colors, forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-exactly-in-the-repetition-of-the-exercises-that-the-education/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [I like to say that women are those who form life in their wombs - and this is a comparison I make - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-like-to-say-that-women-are-those-who-form-life-in-their-wombs-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You are Insignificant. One of millions, neither special nor unique. I did not ask for this ignominy, and I resent the comparison. Fine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/you-are-insignificant-one-of-millions-neither-special-nor-unique-i/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [President Obama's achievements and failures must be evaluated by comparison to those chief executives who have come before him and not be measured against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-garrow/president-obama-s-achievements-and-failures-must-be-evaluated-by/) [David Garrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-garrow/) > [Composing a piece of music is very feminine. It is sensitive, emotional, contemplative. By comparison, doing housework is positively masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kolb/composing-a-piece-of-music-is-very-feminine-it-is-sensitive-emotional/) [Barbara Kolb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kolb/) > [I think the first person to call me 'Britain's Obama' was Martin Bright at the New Statesman. Harriet Harman made the comparison once at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-think-the-first-person-to-call-me-britain-s-obama-was-martin-bright/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The wise man does not permit himself to set up even in his own mind any comparisons of his friends. His friendship is capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/the-wise-man-does-not-permit-himself-to-set-up-even-in-his-own-mind/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [The streets, at least in this part of town, seemed impossibly clean in comparison to London. The public telephones were unvandalised. For a London…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/the-streets-at-least-in-this-part-of-town-seemed-impossibly-clean-in/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [It is only through contact and comparison that the relative value or worthlessness of the various cultural elements can be clearly and critically seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/it-is-only-through-contact-and-comparison-that-the-relative-value-or/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [I feel I'm in 2006 form to be honest. I hear a lot of comparisons to 2004, but I never changed. Last year was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alecko-eskandarian/i-feel-i-m-in-2006-form-to-be-honest-i-hear-a-lot-of-comparisons-to/) [Alecko Eskandarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alecko-eskandarian/) > [Perhaps the comparison is closer to the Chinese cook who leaves hardly any part of a duck unserved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/perhaps-the-comparison-is-closer-to-the-chinese-cook-who-leaves/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) [Browse all 1,152 Comparison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really reject that kind of comparison that says, Oh, he is the best. This is the second best. 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