Tracing Quotations
Gregory Peck? Jaime Escalante? Madonna Louise Ciccone? Jeff Smith? Robert Downey Jr.? Chet Atkins? Question for Quote Investigator: The fear of being mediocre activates a compulsion to achieve fame and excellence for some artists, performers, and educators. Would you please explore the people who expressed this notion? Reply from Quote Investigator: The desire to avoid …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: The Thing I Fear Most Is Being Mediocre. I Like To Excel”
Creator: Madonna Louise Ciccone, American singer, songwriter, and artistic entrepreneur Context: In 1991 “Vanity Fair” published a profile of Madonna within which she discussed her “iron will” and her trepidation. Emphasis added to this excerpt by QI: “And all of my will has always been to conquer some horrible feeling of inadequacy. I’m always struggling …
Continue reading “Quote Origin: My Drive in Life Is from This Horrible Fear of Being Mediocre”