Top 98 Most Inspiring Excellence Quotes (PASSION)

Top 10 Most Famous Excellence Quotes (BEST)

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’.”
Martin Luther King Jr.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. - Vince Lombardi — Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. – **Vince Lombardi**

The pursuit of excellence with unrestrained passion can lead to the accomplishment of wonders with unsurpassed joy. - Aberjhani — The pursuit of excellence with unrestrained **passion** can lead to the **accomplishment** of wonders with unsurpassed joy. – Aberjhani

Many people can reach for and achieve excellence. To do this consistently is what separates masters and geniuses from everyone else. - Paul Russo — Many people can reach for and achieve excellence. To do this **consistently** is what separates masters and **geniuses** from everyone else. – Paul Russo

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected. - Steve Jobs — Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected. – **Steve Jobs**

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
Aristotle

Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. - John W. Gardner — Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. – John W. Gardner

Excellence is not a skill, it's an attitude. - Ralph Marston — Excellence is not a skill, it’s an **attitude**. – Ralph Marston

I’m in the pursuit of awesomeness, excellence is the bare minimum. - Kanye West — I’m in the pursuit of awesomeness, excellence is the bare minimum. – **Kanye West**

We must get to the point in our lives. What is the point? To become a new kind of man or woman, having inner command and outer excellence. - Vernon Howard — We must get to the point in our lives. What is the point? To become a new kind of man or woman, having inner command and outer excellence. – Vernon Howard

19 Thought-Provoking Excellence Quotes To Help You Strive For Greatness

“My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest.”
Charles Dickens

Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident. - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way. - Martin Luther King Jr. — If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way. – Martin Luther King Jr.

“Dreams can become a reality when we possess a vision that is characterized by the willingness to work hard, a desire for excellence, and a belief in our right and our responsiblity to be equal members of society.”
Janet Jackson

We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started. - Henry Ward Beecher — We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have **traveled** from the point where they started. – **Henry Ward Beecher**

Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time. - Habeeb Akande — **Persistence** is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of **time**. – Habeeb Akande

“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”
Aristotle

Excellence isn’t a one-week or one-year ideal. It’s a constant. - Michael Jordan — Excellence isn’t a one-week or one-year ideal. It’s a constant. – **Michael Jordan**

True excellence takes sacrifice, mistakes, and enormous amounts of effort. - Rafe Esquith — True excellence takes sacrifice, mistakes, and enormous amounts of effort. – Rafe Esquith

“Excellence is never granted to man but as the reward of labor. It argues no small strength of mind to persevere in habits of industry without the pleasure of perceiving those advances, which, like the hand of a clock, whilst they make hourly approaches to their point, yet proceed so slowly as to escape observation.”
Joshua Reynolds

Seeking excellence means choosing to forge your own sword to cut through the limitations of your life. - James A. Murphy — Seeking excellence means choosing to forge your own sword to cut through the limitations of your life. – James A. Murphy

Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer. - Rick Pitino — Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer. – Rick Pitino

It takes time to create excellence. If it could be done quickly, more people would do it. - John Wooden — It takes time to create excellence. If it could be done quickly, more people would do it. – **John Wooden**

The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. - Vince Lombardi — The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their **commitment** to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. – Vince Lombardi

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. - Henry Ward Beecher — Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. – Henry Ward Beecher

I tell you that as long as I can conceive something better than myself I cannot be easy unless I am striving to bring it into existence or clearing the way for it. - George Bernard Shaw — I tell you that as long as I can conceive something better than myself I cannot be easy unless I am striving to bring it into existence or clearing the way for it. – **George Bernard Shaw**

Consistency is what transforms average into excellence.

Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it. - Maya Angelou — Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to **love** it and be able to make sacrifices for it. – **Maya Angelou**

If you deliver excellence right now, that gives you the best shot at the best future you’ve got coming. - Robert Forster — If you deliver excellence right now, that gives you the best shot at the best **future** you’ve got coming. – Robert Forster

17 Motivational Excellence Quotes To Improve Your Attitude in Life

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude. - Colin Powell — If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude. – **Colin Powell**

To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. - Sun Tzu — To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. – **Sun Tzu**

Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. - Pat Riley — Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. – **Pat Riley**

Stay focused on your mission, remain steadfast in your pursuit of excellence, and always do the right thing. - Mark Esper — Stay **focused** on your mission, remain steadfast in your pursuit of excellence, and always do the right thing. – Mark Esper

Anything worth doing, is worth doing right. - Hunter S Thompson — Anything worth doing, is worth doing right. – Hunter S Thompson

Either find a way, or make one. You can bend but you can never break if you want to achieve excellence. - Ziad K. Abdelnour — Either find a way, or make one. You can bend but you can never break if you want to achieve excellence. – Ziad K. Abdelnour

Excellence is in the details. Give attention to the details in everything you do and excellence will come. - Perry Sexton — Excellence is in the details. Give attention to the details in everything you do and excellence will come. – Perry Sexton

When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality. - Joe Paterno — When a team outgrows individual performance and **learns** team **confidence**, excellence becomes a reality. – Joe Paterno

The extent of your impact on the world depends on the size of your devotion to excellence. - Robin Sharma — The extent of your impact on the world depends on the size of your **devotion** to excellence. – **Robin Sharma**

Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms. - Samuel Johnson — Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms. – Samuel Johnson

Excellence encourages one about life generally; it shows the spiritual wealth of the world. - George Eliot — Excellence **encourages** one about life generally; it shows the spiritual **wealth** of the world. – **George Eliot**

If you don’t value excellence, you won’t achieve excellence. - Glenn C. Stewart — If you don’t value excellence, you won’t achieve excellence. – Glenn C. Stewart

Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice. We do not act “rightly” because we are “excellent”, in fact we achieve “excellence” by acting “rightly.” - Plato — Excellence is not a **gift**, but a skill that takes practice. We do not act “rightly” because we are “excellent”, in fact we achieve “excellence” by acting “rightly.” – **Plato**

Excellence doesn’t just happen in the moment. It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work. - Glenn C. Stewart — Excellence doesn’t just happen in the moment. It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work. – Glenn C. Stewart

The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and healthy. The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic and a terrible waste of time. - Edwin Bliss — The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and **healthy**. The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic and a terrible waste of time. – Edwin Bliss

Instead of worrying about what people say of you, why not spend time trying to accomplish something they will admire. - Dale Carnegie — Instead of worrying about what people say of you, why not spend time trying to accomplish something they will admire. – **Dale Carnegie**

If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. - Napoleon Hill — If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. – **Napoleon Hill**

5 Excellence Quotes That Inspires Success

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”
Mario Andretti

I often say “pursue excellence, ignore success.” Success is a by-product of excellence. - Deepak Chopra — I often say “pursue excellence, ignore success.” Success is a by-product of excellence. – **Deepak Chopra**

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. - Confucius — The will to **win**, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. – **Confucius**

Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed. - Mia Hamm — Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed. – Mia Hamm

Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers. - Tony Robbins — Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers. – **Tony Robbins**

4 Excellence Quotes on Mediocrity

Some people insist that ‘mediocre’ is better than ‘best.’ They delight in clipping wings because they themselves can’t fly. They despise brains because they have none. - Robert A. Heinlein — Some people insist that ‘mediocre’ is better than ‘best.’ They delight in clipping wings because they themselves can’t fly. They despise brains because they have none. – Robert A. Heinlein

Once you have experienced excellence you will never again be content with mediocrity. - Thomas S. Monson — Once you have **experienced** excellence you will never again be content with mediocrity. – Thomas S. Monson

A passive mindset “manages” to live with mediocre, but an active mindset “leads” to change until excellence results. - Orrin Woodward — A passive mindset “manages” to live with mediocre, but an active mindset “leads” to **change** until excellence results. – Orrin Woodward

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better. - Gordon B. Hinckley — Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better. – Gordon B. Hinckley

5 Excellence Quotes for Students

“No student ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him: it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required, that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction.”
Charles Kendall Adams

If you want to achieve excellence, you must refuse to let anything stand in the way of your potential. - Sai Pradeep — If you want to achieve excellence, you must refuse to let anything stand in the way of your potential. – Sai Pradeep

People of excellence go the extra mile to do what’s right. - Joel Osteen — People of excellence go the extra mile to do what’s right. – **Joel Osteen**

“Excellence is a better teacher than mediocrity. The lessons of the ordinary are everywhere. Truly profound and original insights are to be found only in studying the exemplary.”
Warren Bennis

“Education in India has made monumental progress since Independence but continues to face daunting challenges at multiple levels, particularly in terms of quality, infrastructure and dropout rates. We have islands of excellence floating in a sea of mediocrity.”
Shashi Tharoor

18 Excellence Quotes for Work To Increase Productivity

“My father taught my siblings and me the importance of positive values and a strong ethical compass. He showed us how to be resilient, how to deal with challenges, and how to strive for excellence in all that we do. He taught us that there’s nothing that we cannot accomplish if we marry vision and passion with an enduring work ethic.”
Ivanka Trump

Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort. - Paul J. Meyer — **Productivity** is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort. – Paul J. Meyer

The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it. - Pearl S. Buck — The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it. – Pearl S. Buck

The test of the artist does not lie in the will with which he goes to work, but in the excellence of the work he produces. - Thomas Aquinas — The test of the artist does not lie in the will with which he goes to work, but in the excellence of the work he produces. – **Thomas Aquinas**

If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work. - Thomas J. Watson — If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work. – Thomas J. Watson

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. - Martin Luther King, Jr. — All labor that uplifts **humanity** has **dignity** and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

You have the ability to shine and make a mark in some field. Your job is to find your niche, excel and build a lasting legacy. - Roopleen — You have the ability to shine and make a mark in some field. Your job is to find your niche, excel and build a lasting **legacy**. – Roopleen

Always give your best; today’s great work is tomorrow’s benchmark. - Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha — Always give your best; today’s great work is tomorrow’s benchmark. – Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha

Dreams give birth to passion and passion produces action. Your work ethic, consistency and determination deliver excellent results. - Victor Kwegyir — Dreams give birth to passion and passion produces action. Your work ethic, consistency and determination deliver excellent results. – Victor Kwegyir

Recognize and reward people for excellence, not for just showing up. - Frank Sonnenberg — Recognize and reward people for excellence, not for just showing up. – Frank Sonnenberg

Those who would attain to any marked degree of excellence in a chosen pursuit must work, and work hard for it, Prince or peasant. - Bayard Taylor — Those who would attain to any marked degree of excellence in a chosen pursuit must work, and work hard for it, Prince or peasant. – Bayard Taylor

Mediocre men work at their best; men seeking excellence strive to do better. - Edwin Louis Cole — Mediocre men work at their best; men seeking excellence strive to do better. – Edwin Louis Cole

Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence. - Jessica Guidobono — Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence. – Jessica Guidobono

The excellent person manages himself. He will not allow the environment to manage him. - Rex Resurreccion — The excellent person manages himself. He will not allow the environment to manage him. – Rex Resurreccion

There is no excellence without labor. One cannot dream oneself into either usefulness or happiness. - Liberty Hyde Bailey — There is no excellence without labor. One cannot dream oneself into either usefulness or happiness. – Liberty Hyde Bailey

Hard-work releases the greatness in you. - Sunday Adelaja — **Hard-work** releases the greatness in you. – Sunday Adelaja

Personal excellence can be achieved by a visionary goal, through planning, dedicated execution, and total follow-through. - Gerald R. Ford — Personal excellence can be achieved by a visionary goal, through planning, dedicated execution, and total follow-through. – Gerald R. Ford

The foundation of lasting self-confidence and self-esteem is excellence, mastery of your work. - Brian Tracy — The foundation of lasting self-confidence and self-esteem is excellence, **mastery** of your work. – **Brian Tracy**

6 Excellence Quotes for Business

“It’s the job of any business owner to be clear about the company’s nonnegotiable core values. They’re the riverbanks that help guide us as we refine and improve on performance and excellence. A lack of riverbanks creates estuaries and cloudy waters that are confusing to navigate. I want a crystal-clear, swiftly flowing stream.”
Danny Meyer

We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. - Steve Jobs — We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. – Steve Jobs

If you don’t do it with excellence, don’t do it at all! Because if it’s not excellent, it won’t be profitable or fun. - Robert Townsend — If you don’t do it with excellence, don’t do it at all! Because if it’s not excellent, it won’t be profitable or fun. – Robert Townsend

We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects. - Alexis de Tocqueville — We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects. – Alexis de Tocqueville

Excellence always sells. - Earl Nightingale — Excellence always sells. – **Earl Nightingale**

The pursuit of excellence is less profitable than the pursuit of bigness, but it can be more satisfying. - David Ogilvy — The pursuit of excellence is less profitable than the pursuit of bigness, but it can be more satisfying. – **David Ogilvy**

3 Excellence Quotes and God

Human excellence means nothing unless it works with the consent of God. - Euripides — Human excellence means nothing unless it works with the consent of God. – **Euripides**

I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business. - Michael J. Fox — I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business. – Michael J. Fox

Excellence is pursuing and doing the best we can with the gifts and abilities God gives us.

11 Excellence Quotes that Will Make You Think

“The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence. Really, it’s a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information that will set us free.”
Charles R. Swindoll

In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is **simplicity**. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Do you know great minds enjoy excellence, average minds love mediocrity and small minds adore comfort zones - Onyi Anyado — Do you know great minds enjoy excellence, average minds love mediocrity and small minds adore comfort zones? – Onyi Anyado

“The heart of human excellence often begins to beat when you discover a pursuit that absorbs you, frees you, challenges you, or gives you a sense of meaning, joy or passion.”
Terry Orlick