Quotes About Excellence

If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it.

When you are a starting Real Madrid player, you have to think big. Think of the Ballon d'Or, FIFA's World XI.

I'm just thinking about being the best I can be for the team first because that's what comes first.

I always try and do my best and put out the best and find the best in me, as well. But I'm not thinking about it beforehand.

Every time an artiste goes on stage, he thinks 'I hope today goes well and I hope I give my best.' That is important - that little bit of nervousness or tension is what makes you perform better.

Everyone I built a course for thinks they have the best golf course in the world and I'm very pleased and proud of that.

First rate mathematicians choose first rate people, but second rate mathematicians choose third rate people.

If I'm going to get up on stage to eat hot dogs, I'm not going to do it to get third or fourth.

In Brazil, you know that only first place counts; in other countries, you might celebrate coming second, third, or fourth, but not in Brazil.

I don't think about second or third place.

I have never done anything but my very best work for anyone, and to do this and retain my first fine enthusiasm over a period of thirty years has required a rather special set of working conditions.

Donnie Thomas is simply a superlative linebacker with everything it takes to be an all-American.

Wasim Akram is a splendid human being and a thorough gentleman.

It's better to do something really really well and thorough, than I think to have a surface level version of a lot of different things.

You can't win the Kentucky Derby unless you're on a thoroughbred.

Accept business only at a price permitting thoroughness. Then do a thorough job, regardless of cost to us.

The average person puts only 25% of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%.

One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent.

I'm not the fastest, the strongest, the most athletic, the tallest. But in order for me to be good at what I do, I have to focus on my craft so much that it alleviates those other things. I can't have personal relationships like other people do. I can't spend time on that.

Disciples be damned. It's not interesting. It's only the masters that matter. Those who create.

Let us carefully observe those good qualities wherein our enemies excel us; and endeavor to excel them, by avoiding what is faulty, and imitating what is excellent in them.

The paradox of perfection is that you should try and achieve it by doing quality work even though you know you can never achieve it.

King Arthur was one of my heroes because he was such a marvelous, heroic, courageous, and magnificent person that I had to admire him even though I knew perfectly well that I could never be in any way like that.

You want to do a few things really well because you want to come out with a product that is fully baked, even though it may be lacking in a few features or whatever, rather than the one that's all-achieving but not doing anything too well.