The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water.

Quote by John W Gardner

Topics: John W Gardner Quotes

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

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

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.

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...

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...

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...

Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the nonpharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary...

Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the nonpharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary...

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...

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...

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

True happiness involves the full use of one's power and talents.

True happiness involves the full use of one's power and talents.

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...

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...

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them.

Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them.

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....

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...

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

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

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...

Real education should educate us out of self into something far finer; into a selflessness...

Real education should educate us out of self into something far finer; into a selflessness...

Education is the inculcation of the incomprehensible into the indifferent by the incompetent

Education is the inculcation of the incomprehensible into the indifferent by the incompetent