Mediocrity Quotes

• Jealousy is the tribute which mediocrity pays to genius.

  Fulton J. Sheen

  Jealousy, Envy, Catholic

  "Walk with God".

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• Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.

  Arthur Conan Doyle

  Success, Education, Knowledge

  The Valley of Fear ch. 1 (1915)

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• The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment.

  William Arthur Ward

  Leadership, Basketball, Motivation

  William Arthur Ward (1968). “Thoughts of a Christian Optimist: The Words of William Arthur Ward”

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• It takes more energy to maintain mediocrity than it takes to pursue excellence.

  Matthew Kelly

  Excellence, Energy, Pursue

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• Only the mediocre are always at their best.

  Jean Giraudoux

  Inspirational, Motivational, Favourite

  Jean Giraudoux (2002). “Choice of the Elect”

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• Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

  Albert Einstein

  Inspirational, Motivational, Positive

  Albert Einstein (2015). “Bite-Size Einstein: Quotations on Just About Everything from the Greatest Mind of the Twentieth Century”, p.31, St. Martin's Press

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• "Mediocrity" doesn't mean average intelligence, it means an average intelligence that resents and envies its betters.

  Ayn Rand

  Mean, Average, Gossip

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• Mediocrity is excellent to the eyes of mediocre people.

  Joseph Joubert

  Eye, People, Excellent

  Joseph Joubert (1896). “Pensées of Joubert”

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• Don't settle for mediocrity; never let good enough be good enough.

  Joel Osteen

  Letting Go, Good Enough, Settling

  Joel Osteen (2012). “Daily Readings from Become a Better You: 90 Devotions for Improving Your Life Every Day”, p.31, Simon and Schuster

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• It is a lack of commitment, not a lack of talent, that damns you to mediocrity.

  Roy H. Williams

  Commitment, Talent, Lack Of Commitment

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• People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.

  Andrew Carnegie

  Motivational, Success, Perseverance

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• In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.

  Robert Green Ingersoll

  Work, India, Genius

  Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.725, Library of Alexandria

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• Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre.

  Albert Camus

  Retirement, Mediocre, Happy Death

  Albert Camus (2012). “Happy Death”, p.82, Vintage

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• Leaders set high standards. Refuse to tolerate mediocrity or poor performance.

  Brian Tracy

  Leadership, High Standards, Poor

  Brian Tracy (2008). “Effective Leadership”, p.9, Jaico Publishing House

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• Mediocrity requires aloofness to preserve its dignity.

  Charles G. Dawes

  Inspirational, Dignity, Aloofness

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• Ridicule is the tribute paid to the genius by the mediocrities.

  Oscar Wilde

  Genius, Tribute, Ridicule

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• Nothing is thoroughly approved but mediocrity. The majority has established this, and it fixes its fangs on whatever gets beyond it either way.

  Blaise Pascal

  Majority, Way, Approved

  "Thoughts of Blaise Pascal".

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• There's a lot of mediocrity being celebrated, and a lot of wonderful stuff being ignored or discouraged.

  Sean Penn

  Inspiration, Being Ignored, Individuality

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• Be great at what you do, and don't ever settle for mediocrity or else you will always wonder how great you could have been.

  Debbi Fields

  Wonder, Settling, Could Have Been

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• Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you.

  Jim Rohn

  Life, Motivational, Positive

  FaceBook post by Jim Rohn from Jan 30, 2016

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• In truth, I am nothing but a plodding mediocrity — please observe, a plodding mediocrity — for a mere mediocrity does not go very far, but a plodding one gets quite a distance. There is joy in that success, and a distinction can come from courage, fidelity and industry.

  Benjamin Cardozo

  Distance, Joy, Doe

  "Nine Old Men". Book by Drew Pearson and Robert Sharon Allen, 1936.

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• We meet With few utterly dull and stupid souls: the sublime and transcendent are still fewer; the generality of mankind stand between these two extremes: the interval is filled with multitudes of ordinary geniuses, but all very useful, and the ornaments and supports of the commonwealth.

  Jean de la Bruyere

  Stupid, Two, Support

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• Mediocrity can talk, but it is for genius to observe.

  Benjamin Disraeli

  Intelligent, Political, Genius

  Isaac Disraeli, Benjamin Disraeli (1858). “Curiosities of Literature”, p.104

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• Mediocrity makes the most of its native possessions.

  Blaise Pascal

  Possession, Native

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• One would like to be grand and heroic, if one could; but if not, why try at all? One wants to be very something, very great, very heroic; or if not that, then at least very stylish and very fashionable. It is this everlasting mediocrity that bores me.

  Harriet Beecher Stowe

  Trying, Literature, Want

  Harriet Beecher Stowe (1896). “Household papers and stories”

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