The problem with competition is that it takes away the requirement to set your own path, to invent your own method, to find a new way.
—Seth GodinYou have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that.
—Michael Jordan
I’m in competition with myself and I’m losing.
—Roger WatersYou wanna know what scares people? Success. When you don’t make moves and when you don’t climb up the ladder, everybody loves you because you’re not competition.
—Nicki Minaj
Competing in sports has taught me that if I’m not willing to give 120 percent, somebody else will.
—Ron Blomberg
Nobody’s going to win all the time. On the highway of life you can’t always be in the fast lane.
—Haruki Murakami
Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition. Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.
—Jesse OwensIf you gone come in second, you’re just the first loser!
—Tiger Woods
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
—Willie NelsonNever compete with someone who has nothing to lose.
—Baltasar GraciánCompetition is a rude yet effective motivation.
—Toba Beta
If you’re not gonna go all the way, why go at all?
—Joe NamathReal learning comes about when the competitive spirit has ceased.
—Jiddu KrishnamurtiImage: Jiddu, Jesse, Ron: Getty Images; Seth: Brad Barket / Getty Images; Willie: Reuters; Roger: Radu Sigheti / Reuters; Joe: Jason Redmond / Reuters
(This story appears in the 05 August, 2016 issue
of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)