--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who attain any excellence, commonly…" description: "\"Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/samuel-johnson-50_easier_those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly_2205661.png" --- # Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in… ![“Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/samuel-johnson-50_easier_those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly_2205661.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/samuel-johnson-50_easier_those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly_2205661.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/samuel-johnson-50_easier_those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly_2205661.png) > “Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## 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 dedicated, singular focus; it rarely comes easily or without sustained effort. **In simple terms:** Greatness demands focused, persistent effort. Key Takeaway Commit to one pursuit for excellence. Themes excellence focus effort dedication persistence Mood inspirational serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - academic research - sports training - craftsmanship - entrepreneurship Key Concepts Mastery skill development long‑term goals discipline Questions to Reflect On - What single pursuit could you devote yourself to? - How do you balance focus with flexibility? A Different Perspective Specialization may limit broader experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attain Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attain-excellence-2328431/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Excellence Commonly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence-commonly-2328430/) [Excellence Gained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence-gained-2328434/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-pursuit-575494/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Pursuit Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-excellence-267477/) ## Related quotes > [“Those who attain to any excellence commonly spend life in some single pursuit, for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-attain-to-any-excellence-commonly-spend-life-in-some-single/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [My philosophy all my life has been the pursuit of excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kluge/my-philosophy-all-my-life-has-been-the-pursuit-of-excellence/) [John Kluge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kluge/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [The pursuit of excellence is the proper vocation of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassius-jackson-keyser/the-pursuit-of-excellence-is-the-proper-vocation-of-man/) [Cassius Jackson Keyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassius-jackson-keyser/) > [The pursuit of excellence is a continuous process through life. Enjoy the pursuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-chao/the-pursuit-of-excellence-is-a-continuous-process-through-life-enjoy/) [Elaine Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-chao/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) [Philip Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-selznick/) > [“Consectatio Excellentiae. The pursuit of excellence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefanie-pintoff/consectatio-excellentiae-the-pursuit-of-excellence/) [Stefanie Pintoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefanie-pintoff/) > [“Excellence itself, aretē as the Greeks, virtus as the Romans would have called it, has always been assigned to the public realm where one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/excellence-itself-aret-as-the-greeks-virtus-as-the-romans-would-have/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Every activity performed in public can attain an excellence never matched in privacy; for excellence, by definition, the presence of others is always required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/every-activity-performed-in-public-can-attain-an-excellence-never/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“Aspire higher to attain excellence in whatever you do. But be careful when you reach the peak, where the only way is the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/aspire-higher-to-attain-excellence-in-whatever-you-do-but-be-careful/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [My hunger is not for success, it is for excellence. Because when you attain excellence, success just naturally follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/my-hunger-is-not-for-success-it-is-for-excellence-because-when-you/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [By persistent labor man may attain to all excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/by-persistent-labor-man-may-attain-to-all-excellence/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) > [It changes your life, the pursuit of truth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bradlee/it-changes-your-life-the-pursuit-of-truth/) [Ben Bradlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bradlee/) > [“I live my life in pursuit of truth and beauty. It doesn't pay very well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-haidle/i-live-my-life-in-pursuit-of-truth-and-beauty-it-doesn-t-pay-very-well/) [Noah Haidle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-haidle/) > [When youre young, your whole life is about the pursuit of fun. Then you grow up and learn to be cautious. You could break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-bradsaw/when-youre-young-your-whole-life-is-about-the-pursuit-of-fun-then-you/) [Carrie Bradsaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-bradsaw/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [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/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Easier quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing is easier than yesterday's solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sperry/nothing-is-easier-than-yesterday-s-solutions/) [Roger Sperry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-sperry/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [“Often we find it easier to think our way around things rather than to feel our way through them:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/often-we-find-it-easier-to-think-our-way-around-things-rather-than-to/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [I know it is easier said than done, but you have to find a way to surround yourself with positivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/i-know-it-is-easier-said-than-done-but-you-have-to-find-a-way-to/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) [Browse all 5,480 Easier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly-spend-life-in-one-pursuit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Easier" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly-spend-life-in-one-pursuit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/samuel-johnson-50_easier_those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly_2205661.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/samuel-johnson-50_easier_those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly_2205661.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/samuel-johnson-50_easier_those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly_2205661.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Those who attain any excellence, commonly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly-spend-life-in-one-pursuit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-attain-any-excellence-commonly-spend-life-in-one-pursuit/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```