Inspirational Quotes About Competition

Famous and successful people and leaders from all fields seem to agree that competition is a powerful force in the U.S. economy, but they don't all agree that competition is a positive force. From the ongoing pro-competition and anti-competition philosophical debate comes challenging, inspirational, ironic, and funny quotable quotations that keep the debate alive. Quotable notables are even competitive about convincing others about their views and opinions on the competition.

Business Competition

Competition is an inherent aspect of business not just in the retail industry, but for every industry in a free enterprise system. The U.S. retail industry, however, is relentlessly competitive, with measurements that rank the largest U.S. retail chains in terms of customer experience, brand value, innovation, ethics, reputation, franchise potential, and even trustworthiness, when compared to all other retail competitors.

While competition is pervasive in U.S. business, it is also fair to say that competition is so much a part of the American culture that it is woven into the fabric of everyday existence. That's why there are so many different viewpoints about competition and why quotations about competition are popular.

Funny and Inspirational Quotations About Competition

Use these funny and inspirational quotes on inner-office emails and bulletin boards to amuse and encourage salespeople and other staff.

I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along without it.—Walt Disney, American entrepreneur and animator

A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.—James Cash Penney, Founder of JC Penney 

There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.— Indira Gandhi, Indian politician and stateswoman

Sure, I have advice for people starting to write. Don't. I don't need the competition.—Robert B. Parker, American novelist

I'm in competition with myself and I'm losing.—Roger Waters, English musician and songwriter

Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in people.—David Sarnoff, American businessman and pioneer of early commercial radio and TV

I don't like the idea of competition - maybe because I kept losing them when I was a kid. Maybe it's better to be the one who loses?—Michel Gondry, French director and screenwriter

No matter what the competition is, I try to find a goal that day and better that goal.—Bonnie Blair, American Gold Medalist speedskater

I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others as it is against myself and the clock.—Picabo Street, American Gold Medalist alpine skier

Pro-Competition Quotations

Sometimes you want to encourage an atmosphere of competition. This could be in retail sales as you driver salespeople to try to outdo one another or to reach a company goal. They can also be used in fundraising events to encourage teams to excel.

The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort.—Colin Powell, American politician and retired 4-star general

And while the law of competition may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it ensures the survival of the fittest in every department.—Andrew Carnegie, Scot-American industrialist and philanthropist

Number one, cash is king... number two, communicate... number three, buy or bury the competition.— Jack Welch, American business executive and author

I have always been vitally interested in physical conditioning. I have long believed that athletic competition among people and nations should replace violence and wars.—Johnny Weissmuller, Austro-Hungarian-American actor and Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer

Monopolists who fear competition and who distrust democracy because it stands for equal opportunity would like to secure their position against small and energetic enterprise.—Henry A. Wallace, 33rd U.S. Vice President

Competition helps people figure it out.—Brian McBride, American professional soccer player

In my fifty years of experience and memory, I have seen the most amazing increase in the standard of living of a people ever achieved anywhere in the world. This is why I am so sure that our system of free competition and industrial development is sound and must be preserved.—Charles E. Wilson, American engineer and businessman

Just as predatory animals follow a similar general design and behave in similar ways, so organizations, especially those in competition with one another, must follow certain design principles if they are to succeed and prevail.—Robert Shea, American novelist

Competition is the keen cutting edge of business, always shaving away at costs.— Henry Ford, American industrialist and businessman

Anti-Competition Quotations

At times you may want to tone down the competitive nature of a workplace. These quotes can also be used when your team has suffered a defeat as a balm to the wound.

Do your work with your whole heart, and you will succeed - there's so little competition.—Elbert Hubbard, American writer and philosopher

Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off.—

Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States

The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you had to give.—Howard Cosell, American sports journalist and author

An artist is somebody who enters into competition with God.—Patti Smith, American singer and songwriter

And I've always - the competition is one aspect of the job, but I think if you're too busy worrying about the competition, you don't focus enough on what you're doing.—Katie Couric, American journalist and author

You should be having more fun in high school, exploring things because you want to explore them and learning because you love learning -- not worrying about competition.—Maya Lin, American designer and architect

All you now do is pursue your private objectives within society. Instead of us being a community, everybody is asked to seek their own personal ends. It's called competition. And competition is antagonism.—Edward Bond, English playwright and director

The thought that we're in competition with Russians or with Chinese is all a mistake, and trivial. We are one species, with a world to win.—George Wald, American scientist and Noble Prize winner

The kind of society which we still have is maybe, in some cases, getting worse. Competition is becoming a virtue.—Maj. Robert Owens, American politician

I've never felt any sense of competition with anybody, and we're all friends; we're all good friends.—Jim Henson, American puppeteer and creator of The Muppets