--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: High personal standards aren't enough for…" description: "\"High personal standards aren't enough for organizational excellence. You've got to be intolerant of low standards in others. . . . If you accommodate q..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/price-pritchett-12389_accommodate_high-personal-standards-aren-t-enough-fo_694430.png" --- # High personal standards aren't enough for organizational… ![“High personal standards aren't enough for organizational excellence. You've got to be intolerant of low standards in others. . . . If you accommodate questionable practices in others who touch your organization, you risk soiling its reputation. Anybody whose hands aren't clean can get the place…” quote by Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/price-pritchett-12389_accommodate_high-personal-standards-aren-t-enough-fo_694430.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/price-pritchett-12389_accommodate_high-personal-standards-aren-t-enough-fo_694430.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/price-pritchett-12389_accommodate_high-personal-standards-aren-t-enough-fo_694430.png) > “High personal standards aren't enough for organizational excellence. You've got to be intolerant of low standards in others. . . . If you accommodate questionable practices in others who touch your organization, you risk soiling its reputation. Anybody whose hands aren't clean can get the place dirty.” [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) ## 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 not only personal high standards but also demanding the same from others, as tolerating low standards can damage an organization’s reputation. **In simple terms:** Demand high standards from everyone to protect reputation. Key Takeaway Enforce high standards throughout. Themes leadership integrity excellence Mood serious determined Type ethical professional When to use this quote - management - team building - quality control - reputation management Key Concepts organizational culture ethical standards Questions to Reflect On - How do you address low standards without alienating staff? - What mechanisms ensure consistent quality? A Different Perspective It can be difficult to enforce standards without causing conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [Focusing on strengths is the surest way to greater job satisfaction, team performance and organizational excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/focusing-on-strengths-is-the-surest-way-to-greater-job-satisfaction/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Sorry, but my low standards aren't low enough for your high maintenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sorry-but-my-low-standards-aren-t-low-enough-for-your-high-maintenance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just because brokerages disclose a convoluted web of profiteering doesn’t mean it’s appropriate. It just means they are hiding these questionable practices in plain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-manske/just-because-brokerages-disclose-a-convoluted-web-of-profiteering/) Christopher Manske > [If a rider is concerned about questionable practices, it's his duty to speak up for the good of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/if-a-rider-is-concerned-about-questionable-practices-it-s-his-duty-to/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Success and failure are largely self-defined in terms of personal standards. The higher the self-standards, the more likely will given attainments be viewed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/success-and-failure-are-largely-self-defined-in-terms-of-personal/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [“Whether something is harmful or not is a matter of personal standards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hwang-jungeun/whether-something-is-harmful-or-not-is-a-matter-of-personal-standards/) [Hwang Jungeun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hwang-jungeun/) > [Don't stress yourself so much because they think you're so, it is more realistic and desirable to develop personal standards and values that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/don-t-stress-yourself-so-much-because-they-think-you-re-so-it-is-more/) Senoraroy > [There are many artists that I present that I admit I like less than I do others. But I think that they warrant being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/there-are-many-artists-that-i-present-that-i-admit-i-like-less-than-i/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [The adequacy of performance attainments depends upon the personal standards against which they are judged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/the-adequacy-of-performance-attainments-depends-upon-the-personal/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [By far the most difficult skill I learned as a C.E.O. was the ability to manage my own psychology. Organizational design, process design, metrics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/by-far-the-most-difficult-skill-i-learned-as-a-c-e-o-was-the-ability/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Times of upheaval require not just more leadership but more leaders. People at all organizational levels, whether anointed or self-appointed, must be empowered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalynn-carter/times-of-upheaval-require-not-just-more-leadership-but-more-leaders/) [Rosalynn Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalynn-carter/) > [Personal and organizational effectiveness is proportionate to the strength of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/personal-and-organizational-effectiveness-is-proportionate-to-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/teamwork-is-the-ability-to-work-together-toward-a-common-vision-the/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The most interesting aspect for me, composing exclusively with patterns, is that there is not one organizational procedure more advantageous than another, perhaps because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-feldman/the-most-interesting-aspect-for-me-composing-exclusively-with/) [Morton Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-feldman/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) ## More by Price Pritchett > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [We can't win the struggle for high standards if we just talk a good game . . . we've got to play a good game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/we-can-t-win-the-struggle-for-high-standards-if-we-just-talk-a-good/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [As tough as it sometimes looks on the front end, it's easier to do right than undo wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/as-tough-as-it-sometimes-looks-on-the-front-end-it-s-easier-to-do/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [In these times of self-directed teams, empowered employees, and "boundaryless" organizations, your worth as an individual employee will also get measured by your work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/in-these-times-of-self-directed-teams-empowered-employees-and/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Some people argue against both optimism and pessimism in favor of so-called realistic thinking. They distrust optimism on the grounds that it causes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/some-people-argue-against-both-optimism-and-pessimism-in-favor-of-so/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Your doubts are not the product of accurate thinking, but habitual thinking. Years ago you excepted flawed conclusions as correct, begin to live your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/your-doubts-are-not-the-product-of-accurate-thinking-but-habitual/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [We all faced painful ethical challenges before we even knew how to spell our names. There were tough choices. Tradeoffs. Confusing signals regarding how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/we-all-faced-painful-ethical-challenges-before-we-even-knew-how-to/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Excellence is a process, not just an outcome. Sure, we have to hold out for high standards in the products or services we provide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/excellence-is-a-process-not-just-an-outcome-sure-we-have-to-hold-out/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Notice that "I" is at the center of the word "ethical." There is no "they." Achieving the ethics of excellence is our individual assignment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/notice-that-i-is-at-the-center-of-the-word-ethical-there-is-no-they/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [The only way we can develop muscle is through regular exercise. As soon as we stop stretching and working toward higher ethics, our standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/the-only-way-we-can-develop-muscle-is-through-regular-exercise-as/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [When you hold out for high standards, people are impressed-but they don't always like you for it. Not everybody will be on your side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/when-you-hold-out-for-high-standards-people-are-impressed-but-they/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Everybody makes honest mistakes, but there's no such thing as an honest cover-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/everybody-makes-honest-mistakes-but-there-s-no-such-thing-as-an/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [If you must doubt something, doubt your limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/if-you-must-doubt-something-doubt-your-limits/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [You can't put someone else in charge of your morals. Ethics is a personal discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-put-someone-else-in-charge-of-your-morals-ethics-is-a/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [If you become a giver, you'll make them feel like they want to reciprocate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/if-you-become-a-giver-you-ll-make-them-feel-like-they-want-to/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) [Explore all 55 Price Pritchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) ## More Accommodate quotes > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [In degenerating programmes, however, theories are fabricated only in order to accommodate known facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imre-lakatos/in-degenerating-programmes-however-theories-are-fabricated-only-in/) [Imre Lakatos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imre-lakatos/) > [In general, if a couple cannot expand their original rules and boundaries to accommodate personal growth, the relationship disintegrates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/in-general-if-a-couple-cannot-expand-their-original-rules-and/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) Richard Walters > [Once you run for office, you're in it - sort of like going into the military. You'd better be damned sure it is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy-jr/once-you-run-for-office-you-re-in-it-sort-of-like-going-into-the/) [John F. Kennedy Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy-jr/) > [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [With a basic understanding of all humans as brothers and sisters, we can appreciate the usefulness of different systems and ideologies that can accommodate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/with-a-basic-understanding-of-all-humans-as-brothers-and-sisters-we/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I can't really change my life to accommodate people who are jealous. I don't see why I should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-can-t-really-change-my-life-to-accommodate-people-who-are-jealous-i/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/we-travel-to-open-our-hearts-and-eyes-and-learn-more-about-the-world/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Many women have made the mistake of changing their beliefs to accommodate their work; it must be the other way around. No circumstance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/many-women-have-made-the-mistake-of-changing-their-beliefs-to/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [You have to be open to change. I never stop making sure that what I say is the best of what could be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/you-have-to-be-open-to-change-i-never-stop-making-sure-that-what-i/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [Be content with what you have Be satisfied with your dwelling place to accommodate your enterprise, Restrain your tongue, And shed tears of regret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/son-of-masud-abdullah/be-content-with-what-you-have-be-satisfied-with-your-dwelling-place/) Son of Masud Abdullah > [In the years since The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin, Voinovich has sharpened his satire, and Monumental Propaganda is a novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kalfus/in-the-years-since-the-life-and-extraordinary-adventures-of-private/) [Ken Kalfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kalfus/) > [To constitute a dispute there must be two parties. 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