“The only thing that separates any one of us from excellence is fear and the opposite of fear is faith. I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for, perfection is God’s business.”

“I am looking for excellence. Anyone can struggle but they cannot make a ‘perfect’ film.”

Kamal Haasan (1954) Indian actor

“I may not be perfect, but parts of me are excellent”

Ashleigh Brilliant (1933) American author and cartoonist

“Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”

Vince Lombardi (1913–1970) American football player, coach, and executive

“His Biographer remarked: Of course, ‘Sir, you believe in excellence.' JRD Tata) retorted sharply, 'Not excellence. Perfection. You aim for perfection, you will attain excellence. If you aim for excellence, you will go lower.”

J. R. D. Tata (1904–1993) Indian businessman

“Excellence does not require perfection.”

Henry James (1843–1916) American novelist, short story author, and literary critic

“Perfection is beyond our reach, but they who earnestly strive to become perfect, acquire excellences and virtues of which the multitude have no conception.”

John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) Catholic bishop

“Strive for excellence, not perfection, because we don't live in a perfect world.”

Joyce Meyer (1943) American author and speaker

“Education to perfect gentlemanship, to human excellence, liberal education consists in reminding oneself of human excellence, of human greatness.”

Leo Strauss (1899–1973) Classical philosophy specialist and father of neoconservativism

“I hope your Excellency will not think this application results from a lazy habit, or a desire to free myself from business. Far from it. I am never more happy than when I am honorably or usefully employed. If your Excellency thinks I can promote the service as much in this employment as in any other, I shall cheerfully execute the business, without the least murmur.”

Nathanael Greene (1742–1786) American general in the American Revolutionary War