For every talent that poverty has stimulated it has blighted a hundred. John W. Gardner blighthundredpoverty Change image and share on social
If you have some respect for people as they are, you can be more effective in helping them to become better than they are. John W. Gardner effectivehelppeople Change image and share on social
The hallmark of our age is the tension between aspirations and sluggish institutions. John W. Gardner ageaspirationhallmark Change image and share on social
I am entirely certain that twenty years from now we will look back at education as it is practiced in most schools today and wonder that we could have tolerated anything so primitive. John W. Gardner backeducationpractice Change image and share on social
The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water. John W. Gardner activityexaltexcellence share on social
The idea for which this nation stands will not survive if the highest goal free man can set themselves is an amiable mediocrity. Excellence implies striving for the highest standards in every phase of life. John W. Gardner amiableexcellencefree share on social
When one may pay out over two million dollars to presidential and Congressional campaigns, the U.S. government is virtually up for sale. John W. Gardner campaigncongressionaldollar Change image and share on social
Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. John W. Gardner excellenceextraordinarilyordinary Change image and share on social
Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them. John W. Gardner excellencegreatnesspeople Change image and share on social
The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursing his own education. This will not be a widely shared pursuit until we get over our odd conviction that education is what goes on in school buildings and nowhere else. John W. Gardner buildingburdenconviction share on social
