The most splendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass yourself and to be worthy of your own approval.
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
From computers to information technology to airplanes, it has been America's unique blend of republican government and free-market capitalism that has allowed us to surpass all other nations in history.
True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
Our ascendancy of the past two centuries - first Europe and then the U.S. - has bred a western-centric mentality: the West is the fount of all wisdom. We think of ourselves as open-minded, but our sense of superiority has closed our minds. We never entertained the idea that China could surpass the U.S.
Some versions of patriotism come close to the tribal, which we all want to surpass, and some don't.
Make the workmanship surpass the materials.
And there have certainly been movies I wanted to be in and milestones I wanted to surpass that did not happen.
And if, happy in the lot of no created thing, he withdraws into the center of his own unity, his spirit, made one with God, in the solitary darkness of God, who is set above all things, shall surpass them all.
A man's life is interesting primarily when he has failed - I well know. For it's a sign that he tried to surpass himself.