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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.

One arm might handicap me a little in competition, but I just work with what changes I know I have to make, and I'm pretty used to it now. It mainly depends on the wave conditions... I only get half...

Quotes by Bethany Hamilton

Life is nothing but a competition to be the criminal rather than the victim.

Quotes by Bertrand Russell

I wear the same black suit. I have five of them. I pair them with a red scarf. I was wearing a red scarf when I won the first architectural competition of my career.

Quotes by Bernard Tschumi

When you look at a company that's already succeeded or is at the very top of its game, it isn't necessarily when it's executing well. It tends to be peacetime - you've defeated the competition, you have the highest margins,...

Quotes by Ben Horowitz

'The Federalist' is a small staff, and our close-knit family of senior contributors outwork our competition because of that closeness.

Quotes by Ben Domenech

If you're competing right, if you're doing it right, competition should be a very selfish pursuit.

Quotes by Ben Askren

Race, what is that? Race is a competition, somebody winning and somebody losing. Blood doesn't run in races! Come on!

Quotes by Beah Richards

Athletic competition clearly defines the unique power of our attitude.

Quotes by Bart Starr

In New York, the former lack of real competition allowed taxis to extract excessive charges, regardless of the poor service.

Quotes by Barry Ritholtz

My message to a lot of guys is, if you like school and you like education, baseball is gonna be there, and you can get some of the same great competition in college that you do in the low minor...

Quotes by Barry Larkin

America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.

Quotes by Barack Obama

It's clear that the more competition there is in a team, the better it is for the club.

Quotes by Aymeric Laporte

What is excellence? It is about going a little beyond what we expect from ourselves. Part of the need for excellence is imposed on us externally by our customers. Our competition keeps us on our toes, especially when it is...

Quotes by Azim Premji

In school I really loved Shakespeare, and I participated in a country-wide Shakespeare competition.

Quotes by Aya Cash

When I'm later in the competition, I get antsy. I'm seeing everybody else go and achieve things. It's like I'm just twiddling my thumbs.

Quotes by Ashton Eaton

You don't enter a competition not to win it.

Quotes by Ashley Young

Competition is everywhere here. I think it's a valuable thing. I think it's a good thing.

Quotes by Ashlyn Harris

The success of one film may convince the filmmaker to try repeat his successes and get into a competition with himself. One cannot dwell on periodic successes. You have to look at it as a temporary, passing thing.

Quotes by Asghar Farhadi

Encourage kids to enjoy running and play in athletics. Don't force them to run too much competition.

Quotes by Arthur Lydiard

Today, the forces of competition, technology, and globalization have converged to spur innovation and to transform the way business is done in the securities industry.

Quotes by Arthur Levitt

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.