The idea for which this nation stands will not survive if the highest goal free man can set themselves is an amiable mediocrity. Excellence implies striving for the highest standards in every phase of life.

Quote by John W Gardner

Topics: John W Gardner Quotes

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

Whoever I am, or whatever I am doing, some kind of excellence is within my...

Whoever I am, or whatever I am doing, some kind of excellence is within my...

One of the reasons people stop learning is that they become less and less willing...

One of the reasons people stop learning is that they become less and less willing...

The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden...

The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden...

Some people strengthen the society just by being the kind of people they are.

Some people strengthen the society just by being the kind of people they are.

America's greatness has been the greatness of a free people who shared certain moral commitments....

America's greatness has been the greatness of a free people who shared certain moral commitments....

When one may pay out over two million dollars to presidential and Congressional campaigns, the...

When one may pay out over two million dollars to presidential and Congressional campaigns, the...

Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and...

Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and...

Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders...

Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders...

Men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that as a people we...

Men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that as a people we...

Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders...

Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders...

Storybook happiness involves every form of pleasant thumb-twiddling; true happiness involves the full use of...

Storybook happiness involves every form of pleasant thumb-twiddling; true happiness involves the full use of...

More and more Americans feel threatened by runaway technology, by large-scale organization, by overcrowding. More...

More and more Americans feel threatened by runaway technology, by large-scale organization, by overcrowding. More...

Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

All laws are an attempt to domesticate the natural ferocity of the species.

All laws are an attempt to domesticate the natural ferocity of the species.

If you have some respect for people as they are, you can be more effective...

If you have some respect for people as they are, you can be more effective...

The creative individual has the capacity to free himself from the web of social pressures...

The creative individual has the capacity to free himself from the web of social pressures...

The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in...

The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in...

I am entirely certain that twenty years from now we will look back at education...

I am entirely certain that twenty years from now we will look back at education...

For every talent that poverty has stimulated it has blighted a hundred.

For every talent that poverty has stimulated it has blighted a hundred.