Warren Bennis Quotes

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

Mediocrity is underrated.

It is hard to be an island of excellence in a sea of indifference.

To me, the only sin is mediocrity.

To do a common thing uncommonly well brings success.

But Barry, to me, is head and shoulders above everybody.

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

I don't confuse greatness with perfection. To be great … is…the higher achievement.

Anyone can make things that are beautiful; we need to make things that are remarkable.

I'm not trying to be average.

I want to be great, not good.

The biggest fear in my life is being mediocre.

I don't want to just be known as good. I want to be special.

Be special. Be anything but mediocre.

One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent.

Different' and 'new' is relatively easy. Doing something that's genuinely better is very hard.

We were the finest. We were the best in the world. We were a department that people came from all over the world to study, to look at, to see how we accomplished so much with so little; and we did.

Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them.

The idea for which this nation stands will not survive if the highest goal free man can set themselves is an amiable mediocrity. Excellence implies striving for the highest standards in every phase of life.

One cannot develop taste from what is of average quality but only from the very best.

A great thing can only be done by a great person; and they do it without effort.

I don't want to record anything unless it can be great and genuinely interesting.

When you have had a taste of excellence, you cannot go back to mediocrity.

My biggest fear in life is to be average.

I would rather excel in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and possessions.