Aristotle's Thoughts on 'Excellence'

[RCBeyette]

This just arrived as today's "Postive Quote of the Day"...

Originally Posted by Aristotle

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.

Hmmm...he wasn't that far off, was he?

Originally Posted by RCBeyette

This just arrived as today's "Postive Quote of the Day"...
Quote: (Originally Posted by Aristotle) Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
Hmmm...he wasn't that far off, was he?

http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread....ght=Excellence

Who is excellent and who says so? The link provided also contains another "excellence" link in the first post. I'm excellent. Why? Because, I say so!

[RCBeyette]

Originally Posted by energy

I'm excellent. Why? Because, I say so!

Of course you are excellent, Energy! Never ever thought otherwise!

Originally Posted by RCBeyette

Of course you are excellent, Energy! Never ever thought otherwise!

Flattery will get you everything... Really, when can we be sure enough about ourselves/business to say we meet the criteria for "excellence"? Who decides and what are the guidelines? I worked for a company that had as their company logo-letterhead, "Come experience our excellence." Trust me, I spent 18 months processing their in-house rejections and Customer Complaints. They were and are something short of what I would call excellent. I really believe that the term "excellence" can only come from the Customer as it applies to your business and it's fleeting, sometimes. In my current occupation, many homeowners say things like "Excellent", "Wonderful" and "Very Pleased". Others look at you as they are forking over the check and wonder if they really got their money's worth. Customers may just consider you just average, or much worse. It makes no difference what we think of our excellence. I wonder what Aristotle used as a yardstick. His mirror? JMHO

[Aaron Lupo]

That quote reminds me of something I heard a long time ago. They say it takes a child repeating a task approximately 2000 times before it becomes part of their routine.

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Originally Posted by ISO GUY

They say it takes a child repeating a task approximately 2000 times before it becomes part of their routine.

Unless it happens to be something you do not want them to learn, that is... That happens instantly.

/Claes

[Atul Khandekar]

"Acted rightly" IMO is the key - 'rightness' decided by some prevailing standard(s)?

Originally Posted by Atul Khandekar

"Acted rightly" IMO is the key - 'rightness' decided by some prevailing standard(s)?

Excellence:
Fineness
Brilliance
Superiority
Distinction
Quality
Merit

Mediocrity (antonym)

Righteousness?