“In truth, I am nothing but a plodding mediocrity — please observe, a plodding mediocrity — for a mere mediocrity does not go very far, but a plodding one gets quite a distance. There is joy in that success, and a distinction can come from courage, fidelity and industry.”

Men of Genius Deficient in Conversation.
Curiosities of Literature (1791–1834)

Reflections

Contributions of Jane Wagner

Other material for Lily Tomlin

Source: The Little Big Things: 163 Ways To Pursue Excellence (2010), p. 53.

Letter to Morris Raphael Cohen, professor emeritus of philosophy at the College of the City of New York, defending the appointment of Bertrand Russell to a teaching position (19 March 1940).
1940s
Variant: Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence and fulfills the duty to express the results of his thoughts in clear form.

See You at the Top (2000)

Source: Pène du Bois (1897), p. 99.

Part V, Ch. 3 : 3rd Public Talk Madras 14th January 1968 &quot;The Sacred&quot; http://www.jiddu-krishnamurti.net/en/awakening-of-intelligence/1968-01-14-jiddu-krishnamurti-awakening-of-intelligence-the-sacred <br class="br">1970s, The Awakening of Intelligence (1973)