The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will ha…

- John W. Gardner

A prime function of a leader is to keep hope alive.

- John W. Gardner

At home we have lost the capacity to see what is before us. Travel shakes us out of our apathy, and we regain an attentiveness that heightens every e…

- John W. Gardner

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

- John W. Gardner

Some people strengthen the society just by being the kind of people they are.

- John W. Gardner

Some people may have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them. They achieve it. They do not achieve it unwittingly, by “…

- John W. Gardner

True happiness involves the full use of one's power and talents.

- John W. Gardner

Life is an endless process of self-discovery.

- John W. Gardner

Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable…

- John W. Gardner