James Cash Penney Quotes

I have a horror of not rising above mediocrity.

My philosophy all my life has been the pursuit of excellence.

We strivin' for perfection.

My goal has always been to try to live up to every ounce of my potential. For me, that means working with the best people and working with the best material.

If more people would try and reach up instead of going to the lowest common denominator, I think we'd be a lot better off.

We're always wanting to get better. I'm very much a perfectionist.

I've wanted to - and have been - testing myself against the best guys in the world.

Strive for excellence, not perfection.

I always want to be the best at whatever I'm attempting to do.

Average is very acceptable in our society but I don't think the angels are applauding. If you are determined to be excellent, to not back out of it, you will reap a harvest in your life.

Let us not be satisfied with a mediocre life.

Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself and to American tradition.

Never settle for anything less than your best.

We don't mind working hard to be successful. We don't mind working to be at our best.

Strive for perfection - never be content with mediocrity. You don't win until you conquer the little flaws. You don't beat these great ones until your form is perfect. This is true in all of life. A flaw in a product can ruin a business. A personal failing, a little one, can ruin a person's life. Don't be content with mediocrity - strive to live up to the greatest within you.

I find mediocrity hard. I find that whole area difficult. I'm a very passionate person; I care very much about what I do. I believe I give it a lot, so it's gotta be good; otherwise, what's the point?

I only scream and scratch when something's only 'really good' or 'good', I want to be great, or let's go home.

Go for the gold: better one great column and some undistinguished ones than constant mediocrity.

Everything I put my name to and take part in, I want to be good. That's not saying it will always happen. But I want to make bold choices.

If ambition is the desire to be the best at what you do, then I'm guilty.

I think you should always aim for more.

You don't set off in life to be mediocre. At least, I don't.

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.

I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But excellence is a competitive notion, and that is not what we are heading for: we are heading for perfection.

I think you need to have people around you whose standard is high and who don't accept anything less.