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Competition Quotes

On rivalry, self-competition, and contests both small and large.

Competition appears here at very different scales - a mayor comparing notes with neighboring cities, and the old idea that the only competition worth taking seriously is with yourself. See also Best quotes.

Unregulated competition is a naive metaphor for anarchy.

Quotes by John Ralston Saul

The merger mania which goes on and on and on is the sign of the disappearance of competition. As we deregulate, the mergers increase, which means there's less and less competition. At the national level, at the regional level, but...

Quotes by John Ralston Saul

The rate of change is not going to slow down anytime soon. If anything, competition in most industries will probably speed up even more in the next few decades.

Quotes by John P. Kotter

The competition to get above the rest and be the lead commentator, or whatever you want to call it, is much fiercer than it was when I was starting out. By the same token, there were not as many jobs...

Quotes by John Motson

As much as I very much want audiences to watch FX's carefully curated and highly contextualized television shows, I'm now glad when anyone takes the time to watch even our competition's television series, as long as it demands their sustained...

Quotes by John Landgraf

In the tail above the giant resonance, you can get not just one neutron emitted but two, three, four or five, and so there are a lot of things one can measure, looking at the competition with the emission of...

Quotes by John Henry Carver

Activity in politics also produces eager competition and sharp rivalry.

Quotes by John George Nicolay

I had been offered fellowships to enter as a graduate student at either Harvard or Princeton. But the Princeton fellowship was somewhat more generous, since I had not actually won the Putnam competition... Thus Princeton became the choice for my...

Quotes by John Forbes Nash, Jr.

We have been told many times that we have become too big, but these are things that only someone who has no idea of the size of the competition can say. We are too small.

Quotes by John Elkann

Competition is a sin.

Quotes by John D. Rockefeller

I don't think that the Pulitzer should be given the way it is. I think the competition should be anonymous. I think completely different people would win it if the names were taken off because a lot of it is...

Quotes by John Corigliano

The denominational world tries to pressure its members to focus on the birth of Christ, but in doing so layers of guilt are imposed, and competition gets complicated as one Christmas program tries to outdo the other.

Quotes by John Clayton

Every dollar of tax imposed on our exchanges in the shape of duties impairs, to that extent, our capacity to meet the severe competition to which we are exposed; and nothing but a system of high protective duties, long continued,...

Quotes by John C. Calhoun

The limit is not as narrow as it might be. I do not claim for this action, as it now goes on, an ideal degree of efficiency. What I do claim is that this type of competition already reveals its...

Quotes by John Bates Clark

When we say that the persistence of competition is ensured by fate, we mean that individual freedom is so guaranteed. The one thing to which fate binds us is liberty.

Quotes by John Bates Clark

Maybe in America there's more of an emphasis on food than there should be. But when I look out at the audience during a competition, some people are shocked, but most people are smiling.

Quotes by Joey Chestnut

The benefit is competition, the thrill of playing in the Olympics, being an Olympian, playing against the best.

Quotes by Joe Sakic

The competition is so fierce once you become an adult. I'll probably move on to something else.

Quotes by Jodie Sweetin

The competition in today's world of racing is so tough.

Quotes by Jimmie Johnson

My imagination was no competition for nature.

Quotes by Jim Toomey

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the central idea in these competition quotes?
One quote reframes competition as an inward challenge rather than a rivalry with others: "The only competition worthy of a wise man is with himself." It suggests that self-improvement matters more than beating other people. For more on that mindset, see Better quotes.
Is there a quote about competition between cities or places?
Yes - one quote comes from a mayor's perspective: "Obviously as a mayor, I'm in competition with my neighboring cities as well as cities around the country," treating competition as a practical, ongoing part of local governance.
Does any quote touch on international competition?
Yes. One quote discusses the "Sino-American competition," noting it involves "two significant realities that distinguish it from the Cold War." It's presented here as a factual observation on international relations.
Is competition linked to conflict over resources in these quotes?
Yes - one quote connects the two directly, noting that conflicts, "whether those conflicts are local, whether they are regional or global," are often about "the management, the distribution of resources." It frames competition as something that can escalate when resources are scarce.
Where can I find more quotes about striving to be the best?
Take a look at Always quotes, Best quotes, and Good quotes for more on ambition and self-improvement.

A couple of quotes widen the lens further, discussing competition between nations and the resource conflicts behind many disputes. Related pages: Better quotes and Good quotes.