Jean de la Bruyere Quotes

Man, unlike anything organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments.

It's a sign of mediocrity when you demonstrate gratitude with moderation.

Mediocrity is underrated.

None of us are really dumb and none of us are really smart. We're in the middle.

I have no concern for the common man except that he should not be so common.

I don't want to be special.

Great men are true men, the men in whom nature has succeeded. They are not extraordinary - they are in the true order. It is the other species of men who are not what they ought to be.

Nothing is good but mediocrity. The majority has settled that, and finds fault with him who escapes it at whichever end... To leave the mean is to abandon humanity.

You'll turn out ordinary if you're not careful.

Be more than man, or thou'rt less than an ant.

There has never been, and never again will be a human being like you. There is nothing ordinary about you. If you feel ordinary, it is because you have chosen to hide the extraordinary parts of yourself from the world.

Imposing an alleged uniform general method upon everybody breeds mediocrity in all but the very exceptional. And measuring originality by deviation from the mass breeds eccentricity in them.

I am certain and have always stressed that the destination of mankind is to become more and more humane. The ideal of humanity has to be revived.

There is no greater consolation for mediocrity than that the genius is not immortal.

For official record, announce instructor, the state requires no epic hero. No strive achieve personal celebrity of spotlight and applause. Lectures instructor, the state desires best ideal perform as mediocre. No gain attention showboat. No buffoon. Best effort so occur average. Suppress climbing ego. Become ordinary. Invisible.

A middling talent makes for a more serene life.

So you’re reluctant, I said to myself. Many, many people are reluctant. It’s like having feet. It’s nothing to brag about.

Among many reasons for being stupid it may be urged, it is being like other people, and living like one's neighbours, and indeed without it, it may be difficult to love some neighbours as oneself: now seeing the necessity of being dull, you won't, I hope, take it amiss that you find me so.

I was in school for jazz voice, which is the dumbest way to spend $35,000 a year. I just felt like a rip-off of good jazz singers. I didn't feel like I was being anything special, and I always wanted to be special. It's like you know you have something inside you that's gonna make you different than everybody else and make you somebody in this life, but you wish you could figure out what it is, because at most things, you're either mediocre or really, really bad.

That man who is more then his elements knows the land that is more than its analysis.

It is my firm faith that man is by nature going higher.

Most people are not particularly good at anything.

Everyone may be ordinary, but they're not normal.

To the mediocre, mediocrity is a form of happiness.