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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!
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
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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.

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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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