--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness…" description: "\"“We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness then, is not an act, but a habit”\" — Will Durant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/will-durant-948_excellence_we-are-what-we-repeatedly-do-greatness-t_2898302.png" --- # We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness then, is not an… ![“We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness then, is not an act, but a habit” quote by Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/will-durant-948_excellence_we-are-what-we-repeatedly-do-greatness-t_2898302.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/will-durant-948_excellence_we-are-what-we-repeatedly-do-greatness-t_2898302.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/will-durant-948_excellence_we-are-what-we-repeatedly-do-greatness-t_2898302.png) > ““We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness then, is not an act, but a habit”” [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeated actions shape identity; greatness emerges from consistent habits, not isolated deeds. **In simple terms:** Habits define us. Key Takeaway Cultivate good habits daily. Themes habit greatness consistency self‑improvement Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - daily routines - skill development - leadership training Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Which habit could you improve now? - How do small habits accumulate over time? A Different Perspective Habits are hard to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Philosophy of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-what-we-repeatedly-do-excellence-then-is-not-an-act-but-a-habit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle How very little can be done under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/we-are-what-we-repeatedly-do-excellence-then-is-not-an-act-but-a-3/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” ―Aristotle,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-what-we-repeatedly-do-excellence-then-is-not-an-act-but-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-what-we-repeatedly-do-excellence-therefore-is-not-an-act-but-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/excellence-is-not-a-singular-act-but-a-habit-you-are-what-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation: we do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/excellence-is-an-art-won-by-training-and-habituation-we-do-not-act-4/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation: we do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/excellence-is-an-art-won-by-training-and-habituation-we-do-not-act-2/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [As to virtue . . . it is an act of the will, a habit which increases the quantity, intensity and quality of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/as-to-virtue-it-is-an-act-of-the-will-a-habit-which-increases-the/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [“We are what we repeatedly do. 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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/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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 > [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/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are what we repeatedly do. 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