Anti-intellectualism has long been the anti-Semitism of the businessman.
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.Read
Excellence is the eternal quest. We achieve it by living up to our highest intellectual standards and our finest moral intuitions. In seeking excellence, take life seriously-but never yourself!
Interpretation
What this quote means
Excellence requires a serious commitment to our highest standards while maintaining a sense of humor about ourselves.
This quote emphasizes the continuous pursuit of excellence in both intellectual and moral aspects of life. It suggests that while we should strive to achieve our best and hold ourselves to high standards, we must also remember to not take ourselves too seriously, allowing for humility and humor in our journey towards excellence.
Themes
ExcellenceStandardsHumorCommitmentLife
In practice
Example use cases
Inspirational speeches about pursuing personal goals.
More from Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
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Science and technology revolutionize our lives, but memory, tradition and myth frame our response.
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The genius of impeachment lay in the fact that it could punish the man without punishing the office.
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Clarity in language depends on clarity in thought.
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Man generally is entangled in insoluble problems; history is consequently a tragedy in which we are all involved, whose keynote is anxiety and frustration, not progress and fulfilment.
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