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Don't be content with doing only your duty. Do more than your duty. It's the horse that finishes a neck ahead that wins the race.
Andrew Carnegie
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Strive to exceed expectations and go beyond just fulfilling responsibilities.

This quote by Andrew Carnegie emphasizes the importance of not merely performing one's duties, but instead going above and beyond in pursuit of success. Just like in a race, where the winner is determined by a small margin, those who put in extra effort are often the ones who achieve their goals and stand out from the rest.

Themes

EffortDutyMotivationSuccessExcellence

In practice

Example use cases

In a team meeting, to encourage colleagues to take initiative: 'Remember, as Andrew Carnegie said, don't just do your duty, do more than your duty!'

More from Andrew Carnegie

Give me the life of the boy whose mother is nurse, seamstress, washerwoman, cook, teacher, angel, and saint, all in one, and whose father is guide, exemplar, and friend. No servants to come between. These are the boys who are born to the best fortune.
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To kill a man will be considered as disgusting [in the twentieth century] as we in this day consider it disgusting to eat one.
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It is not the rich man's son that the young struggler for advancement has to fear in the race for life, nor his nephew, nor his cousin. Let him look out for the dark horse in the boy who begins by sweeping out the office.
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You are what you think. So just think big, believe big, act big, work big, give big, forgive big, laugh big, love big and live big.
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Speculation is a parasite feeding upon values, creating none.
Andrew CarnegieRead
He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dare not is a slave.
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