--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Strive for excellence in your calling…" description: "\"Strive for excellence in your calling, but as a subsidiary to this: Do not fail to enrich your whole capital as man. To be a giant, and not a dwarf in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/william-matthews-20067_calling_strive-for-excellence-in-your-calling-bu_2135234.png" --- # Strive for excellence in your calling, but as a subsidiary… ![“Strive for excellence in your calling, but as a subsidiary to this: Do not fail to enrich your whole capital as man. To be a giant, and not a dwarf in your profession, you must always be growing. The man that has ceased to go up intellectually has begun to go down.” quote by William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/william-matthews-20067_calling_strive-for-excellence-in-your-calling-bu_2135234.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/william-matthews-20067_calling_strive-for-excellence-in-your-calling-bu_2135234.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/william-matthews-20067_calling_strive-for-excellence-in-your-calling-bu_2135234.png) > “Strive for excellence in your calling, but as a subsidiary to this: Do not fail to enrich your whole capital as man. To be a giant, and not a dwarf in your profession, you must always be growing. The man that has ceased to go up intellectually has begun to go down.” [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) ## 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 continual growth; stagnation leads to decline in both intellect and professional stature. **In simple terms:** Keep improving, or you fall behind. Key Takeaway Never stop learning and expanding your abilities. Themes growth excellence professionalism Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career development - academic pursuits - skill building - leadership training Key Concepts continuous improvement intellectual development career advancement Questions to Reflect On - What habits keep you growing? - How do you measure intellectual progress? A Different Perspective Growth alone isn’t enough without purpose and balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Dwarfs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwarfs/) [Dwarves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwarves/) [Enrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enrich/) [Enrich Capital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enrich-capital-4418912/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Excellence Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence-calling-4418914/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Giants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giants/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-man/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Profession Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession-growing-4418913/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Strive For Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive-for-excellence/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [Growing as a man, I had to go through some stuff first. 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Our forests furnish no mast for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-are-accustomed-to-say-in-new-england-that-few-and-fewer-pigeons/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [To keep up with the demands of the growing manufacturing sector, our Government is pleased to invest in the establishment of the Saskatchewan Manufacturing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rempel/to-keep-up-with-the-demands-of-the-growing-manufacturing-sector-our/) [Michelle Rempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rempel/) > [We, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-the-people-understand-that-our-country-cannot-succeed-when-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A boy has two jobs. One is just being a boy. The other is growing up to be a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/a-boy-has-two-jobs-one-is-just-being-a-boy-the-other-is-growing-up-to/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [What is the use of being a little boy if you are growing up to be a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/what-is-the-use-of-being-a-little-boy-if-you-are-growing-up-to-be-a/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“Douglass never made the mistake (a common one) of considering that his education was finished. He has continued to study, he studies now, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/this-ebook-features-dynamic-links-for-ease-of-navigation-plus-bonus-audiobook/douglass-never-made-the-mistake-a-common-one-of-considering-that-his/) [This Ebook Features Dynamic Links for Ease of Navigation Plus Bonus Audiobook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/this-ebook-features-dynamic-links-for-ease-of-navigation-plus-bonus-audiobook/) > [“When rewards ignore individual performance, the incentive to strive for excellence is lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/when-rewards-ignore-individual-performance-the-incentive-to-strive/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“Strive For Excellence Perhaps the most Important single cause of A person's success or Failure educationally has To do with the question Of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-combs/strive-for-excellence-perhaps-the-most-important-single-cause-of-a/) [Arthur W Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-combs/) > [If you strive for excellence, success will follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shreya-ghoshal/if-you-strive-for-excellence-success-will-follow/) [Shreya Ghoshal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shreya-ghoshal/) > [I am inspired by the professionalism of others. I believe there is an obligation to strive for excellence in what one is asked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/densey-clyne/i-am-inspired-by-the-professionalism-of-others-i-believe-there-is-an/) [Densey Clyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/densey-clyne/) > [Always strive for excellence. What you plant now, you will harvest later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-strive-for-excellence-what-you-plant-now-you-will-harvest-later/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) ## More by William Matthews > [The petty cares, the minute anxieties, the infinite littles which go to make up the sum of human experience, like the invisible granules of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/the-petty-cares-the-minute-anxieties-the-infinite-littles-which-go-to/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [Talking, is a digestive process which is absolutely essential to the mental constitution of the man who devours many books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/talking-is-a-digestive-process-which-is-absolutely-essential-to-the/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [Criminals are opportunists. If you've got a booming market, they're going to get away with more fraud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/criminals-are-opportunists-if-you-ve-got-a-booming-market-they-re/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [Intercourse is after all man's best teacher. "Know thyself" is an excellent maxim; but even self-knowledge cannot be perfected in closets and cloisters--nor amid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/intercourse-is-after-all-man-s-best-teacher-know-thyself-is-an/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [Stoutly as we may affirm that our disasters and vices are chargeable to luck, we never dream of ascribing our meritorious deeds, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/stoutly-as-we-may-affirm-that-our-disasters-and-vices-are-chargeable/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [There is one curious fact noticeable in regard to this thing called "luck," which is, that while it is made responsible for any turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/there-is-one-curious-fact-noticeable-in-regard-to-this-thing-called/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [There is a wide difference between general acquaintance and companionship. You may salute a man and exchange compliments with him daily, yet know nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/there-is-a-wide-difference-between-general-acquaintance-and/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [Go to the desk. Stay at the desk. Thrive at the desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/go-to-the-desk-stay-at-the-desk-thrive-at-the-desk/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [One wellcultivated talent, deepened and enlarged, is worth 100 shallow faculties. The first law of success in this day, when so many things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/one-wellcultivated-talent-deepened-and-enlarged-is-worth-100-shallow/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [The same disappointments in life will chasten and refine one man's spirit, embitter another's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/the-same-disappointments-in-life-will-chasten-and-refine-one-man-s/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [As frost, raised to its utmost intensity, produces the sensation of fire, so any good quality, overwrought and pushed to excess, turns into its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/as-frost-raised-to-its-utmost-intensity-produces-the-sensation-of/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [The power of music that poetry lacks is the ability to persuade without argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/the-power-of-music-that-poetry-lacks-is-the-ability-to-persuade/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [What lasting progress was ever made in social reformation, except when every step was insured by appeals to the understanding and the will?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/what-lasting-progress-was-ever-made-in-social-reformation-except-when/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [Unless a man has trained himself for his chance, the chance will only make him ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/unless-a-man-has-trained-himself-for-his-chance-the-chance-will-only/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [The fullest instruction, and the fullest enjoyment are never derived from books, till we have ventilated the ideas thus obtained in free and easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/the-fullest-instruction-and-the-fullest-enjoyment-are-never-derived/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) [Explore all 31 William Matthews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) ## More Calling quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [\*Calling someone I don't want to answer\* \*Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail..\* Hello? -\_\_\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/calling-someone-i-don-t-want-to-answer-please-go-to-voice-mail-please/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) [Browse all 3,811 Calling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Strive for excellence in your calling, but as a subsidiary to this: Do not fail to enrich your whole capital as man. To be a giant, and not a dwarf in your profession, you must always be growing. 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