--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One has to set high standards... I can…" description: "\"One has to set high standards... I can never be happy with mediocre performance.\" — Patrice Motsepe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/patrice-motsepe-28777_happiness_one-has-to-set-high-standards-i-can-neve_2508704.png" --- # One has to set high standards... I can never be happy with… ![“One has to set high standards... I can never be happy with mediocre performance.” quote by Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/patrice-motsepe-28777_happiness_one-has-to-set-high-standards-i-can-neve_2508704.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/patrice-motsepe-28777_happiness_one-has-to-set-high-standards-i-can-neve_2508704.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/patrice-motsepe-28777_happiness_one-has-to-set-high-standards-i-can-neve_2508704.png) > “One has to set high standards... I can never be happy with mediocre performance.” [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence requires setting high standards and rejecting mediocrity in all endeavors. **In simple terms:** Never accept mediocrity. Key Takeaway Aim for high standards. Themes excellence standards performance leadership motivation Mood inspirational determined Type leadership self-improvement When to use this quote - Career growth - team management - personal ambition - project execution Key Concepts Personal development goal setting continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - What standards are essential for success? - How do you maintain motivation? A Different Perspective High standards may cause burnout if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [High standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-standards/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) ## Related quotes > [The mediocre mind never allows the genius; the mediocre person is happy with other mediocre people. The stupid people are happy with stupid leaders.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-mediocre-mind-never-allows-the-genius-the-mediocre-person-is/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Do the best you can. But I want to emphasize that it be the very best. We are too prone to be satisfied with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/do-the-best-you-can-but-i-want-to-emphasize-that-it-be-the-very-best/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [I have such high standards for myself and I will never settle for being a mediocre player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/i-have-such-high-standards-for-myself-and-i-will-never-settle-for/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [Have you set high standards in the past that make it clear what level of performance you demand?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/have-you-set-high-standards-in-the-past-that-make-it-clear-what-level/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [As a coach, your high standards of performance, attention to detail and - above all - how hard you work set the stage for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/as-a-coach-your-high-standards-of-performance-attention-to-detail-and/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Too often, executive compensation in the U.S. is ridiculously out of line with performance. 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It's on the increase, as you say. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/performance-capture-is-a-tool-that-young-actors-will-need-in-the-next/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I am always really buzzed after each performance, and at around one in the morning, Ill hit a brick wall and need to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hattie-morahan/i-am-always-really-buzzed-after-each-performance-and-at-around-one-in/) [Hattie Morahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hattie-morahan/) > [The best thing about the term 'performance artist' is that it includes just about everything you might want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/the-best-thing-about-the-term-performance-artist-is-that-it-includes/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) ## More by Patrice Motsepe > [South Africans are caring, compassionate and loving people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/south-africans-are-caring-compassionate-and-loving-people/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [My parents insisted that we should always be respectful, never forget where we come from and that we are part of the challenges facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/my-parents-insisted-that-we-should-always-be-respectful-never-forget/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [My comrades would call me a 'black capitalist.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/my-comrades-would-call-me-a-black-capitalist/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [Education is at the heart of achieving your dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/education-is-at-the-heart-of-achieving-your-dreams/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [The relationship between ARMgold and Harmony continues to develop and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/the-relationship-between-armgold-and-harmony-continues-to-develop-and/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [If we continue doing the right things in Africa, we can create a very exciting and competitive global market here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/if-we-continue-doing-the-right-things-in-africa-we-can-create-a-very/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [Youth all over the world are very hungry to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/youth-all-over-the-world-are-very-hungry-to-succeed/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [I'm a sinner. I fumble. People must see me as one of them. The things that worry them, must worry me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/i-m-a-sinner-i-fumble-people-must-see-me-as-one-of-them-the-things/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [People don't know that there were very successful black businessmen in the years of apartheid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/people-don-t-know-that-there-were-very-successful-black-businessmen/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [You have to have a globally competitive mining dispensation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/you-have-to-have-a-globally-competitive-mining-dispensation/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [Abe Krok was a man of integrity who made a unique contribution to Mamelodi Sundowns and to South African football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/abe-krok-was-a-man-of-integrity-who-made-a-unique-contribution-to/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [All our businesses comprise of the BEST people money can buy. My policy is hire the best and pay them well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/all-our-businesses-comprise-of-the-best-people-money-can-buy-my/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [You could be worth $2 billion today and a half a billion tomorrow. It doesn't take much for this to disappear overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/you-could-be-worth-2-billion-today-and-a-half-a-billion-tomorrow-it/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [I have confidence in mining. I see exciting opportunities in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/i-have-confidence-in-mining-i-see-exciting-opportunities-in-it/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [Only in South Africa could you have a change in government without civil war. If there wasn't the depth of love and caring among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/only-in-south-africa-could-you-have-a-change-in-government-without/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) [Explore all 19 Patrice Motsepe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One has to set high standards... 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