--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was raised to believe that excellence…" description: "\"I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that's how I operate my life.\" — Oprah Winfrey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/oprah-winfrey-186_believe_i-was-raised-to-believe-that-excellence_1384969.png" --- # I was raised to believe that excellence is the best… ![“I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that's how I operate my life.” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/oprah-winfrey-186_believe_i-was-raised-to-believe-that-excellence_1384969.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/oprah-winfrey-186_believe_i-was-raised-to-believe-that-excellence_1384969.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/417/oprah-winfrey-186_believe_i-was-raised-to-believe-that-excellence_1384969.png) > “I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that's how I operate my life.” [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence can serve as a powerful personal defense against prejudice, shaping how one lives and interacts. **In simple terms:** Being excellent protects against bias. Key Takeaway Cultivate excellence to counter discrimination. Themes excellence prejudice personal agency Mood determined inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career advancement - education - leadership - community building Key Concepts social justice self-improvement Questions to Reflect On - How does personal excellence influence others' perceptions? - Can excellence replace collective action? A Different Perspective Excellence alone may not change systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Sexism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexism/) ## Related quotes > [Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/excellence-is-the-best-deterrent-to-racism-or-sexism/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Of course, intersectionality theory is a confused muddle. It fights racism and sexism by classifying everyone according to race and sex. It views race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-hoff-sommers/of-course-intersectionality-theory-is-a-confused-muddle-it-fights/) [Christina Hoff Sommers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-hoff-sommers/) > [My generation of Americans was the first to really care about racism and sexism, not to mention the I Ching, plus, of course, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-generation-of-americans-was-the-first-to-really-care-about-racism/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I saw America as a land of opportunity, not a bastion of racism or sexism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/i-saw-america-as-a-land-of-opportunity-not-a-bastion-of-racism-or/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [Comedy can always be taken the wrong way. If I do a bit that is meant to diffuse racism or sexism, Im not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/comedy-can-always-be-taken-the-wrong-way-if-i-do-a-bit-that-is-meant/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Throughout college and law school, as well as in my career as a lawyer and police reform advocate, I've faced various toxic combinations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lightfoot/throughout-college-and-law-school-as-well-as-in-my-career-as-a-lawyer/) [Lori Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lightfoot/) > [Ageism is a variation of racism or sexism, all the other isms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/ageism-is-a-variation-of-racism-or-sexism-all-the-other-isms/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [I also often hear people say that the deck is stacked against them because of racism, sexism, or other oppressive 'isms.' But once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-also-often-hear-people-say-that-the-deck-is-stacked-against-them/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [We live in a world where sports have the potential to bridge the gap between racism, sexism and discrimination. The 2012 Olympic Games was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/we-live-in-a-world-where-sports-have-the-potential-to-bridge-the-gap/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [I've had to deal with racism, sexism, rumors, malice, a little bit of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-yee/i-ve-had-to-deal-with-racism-sexism-rumors-malice-a-little-bit-of/) [Angela Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-yee/) > [Only a great man, believe me, and one whose excellence rises far above human failings, will not allow anything to be stolen from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/only-a-great-man-believe-me-and-one-whose-excellence-rises-far-above/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Excellent firms don't believe in excellence - only in constant improvement and constant change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/excellent-firms-don-t-believe-in-excellence-only-in-constant/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I believe excellence is being able to perform at a high level over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-believe-excellence-is-being-able-to-perform-at-a-high-level-over/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [I believe in excellence. It is a basic need of every human soul. All of us can be excellent, because, fortunately, we are exceedingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-teller/i-believe-in-excellence-it-is-a-basic-need-of-every-human-soul-all-of/) [Edward Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-teller/) > [“…it is no longer useful to…keep defining and elaborating our understandings of the exact nature of racism, sexism, class and sexual orientation as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora-levins-morales/it-is-no-longer-useful-to-keep-defining-and-elaborating-our/) [Aurora Levins Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora-levins-morales/) ## More by Oprah Winfrey > [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you can see it, and believe it, it is a LOT easier to achieve it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-can-see-it-and-believe-it-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-achieve-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-greater-gift-you-can-give-or-receive-than-to-honor-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-every-day-to-be-a-fresh-start-on-expanding-what-is-possible/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [We often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... You're worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/we-often-block-our-own-blessings-because-we-don-t-feel-inherently/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Your soul tells you when it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-soul-tells-you-when-it-s-time-to-move-on/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) [Explore all 971 Oprah Winfrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. 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