Emulation
theory of comparative psychology
Emulation is the effort or desire to equal or surpass others.
Quotes
edit- Young gentlemen, who are to display their knowledge to the world, should have every motive of emulation, should be formed into regular classes, should read and dispute together, should have all the honors, and, if one may say so, the pomp of learning set before them, to call up their ardor. It is their business, and they should apply to it as such.
- The best way to enhance freedom in other lands is to demonstrate here that our democratic system is worthy of emulation.
- When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.
- There is no human reason why a child should not admire and emulate his teacher's ability to do sums, rather than the village bum's ability to whittle sticks and smoke cigarettes. The reason why the child does not is plain enough... the bum has put himself on an equality with him and the teacher has not
- Trendy is emulating your children while they emulate your parents.
- Bill Greenwell, in New Statesman, Volume 103 p. 68
- Under the auspices of peace, our comprehensive renaissance will be built, and it will be a model for those who wish to emulate it in the greater [[Arabia|Arab| homeland.
- Leisure and curiosity might soon make great advances in useful knowledge, were they not diverted by minute emulation and laborious trifles.
- Samuel Johnson, quoted by Thomas Stothard in Harrison's British Classicks: Dr. Johnson's Rambler. Lord Lyttleton's p. 399
- I would hope they would be our fellow artists, rather than trying to emulate or idolize clowns like us.
- I was induced to establish several orders of merit, from conviction that emulation, well directed, becomes a useful servant; and, that the latent genius of some youth is more easily brought into action this way, than by the more sordid gratification of self-interest.
- Men nearly always follow the tracks made by others and proceed in their affairs by imitation, even though they cannot entirely keep to the tracks of others or emulate the prowess of their models. So a prudent man should always follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been outstanding. If his own prowess fails to compare with theirs, at least it has an air of greatness about it. He should behave like those archers who, if they are skilful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.
- Niccolo Machiavelli, quoted in [Memorable Quotations: Philosophers of Western Civilization p. 144
- Imitation is replication of particulars, emulation is adoption of an exemplified universal or principle.
- David L. Norton, Personal Destinies: A Philosophy of Ethical Individualism (1976), p. 12.
- Great people give inspiration by their deeds. They lead by examples. Common people always emulate them. ”
- There is a strange impulse in many to protect Bible characters and to use them as inspiration... as if sanctification happens as a result of emulation.
- There is, indeed, no single quality of the cat that man could not emulate to his advantage.
- Carl Van Vechten, in Cat Secrets p. 122
- The deities acquired knowledge from the Vedas and human beings too should emulate the deities and acquire knowledge in the same manner.
- ...though it is by no means requisite that the American women should emulate the men in the pursuit of the whale, the felling of the forest, or the shooting of wild turkeys, they might, with advantage, be taught in early youth to excel in the race, to hit a mark, to swim, and in short to use every exercise which could impart vigor to their frames and independence to their minds. But I have dwelt enough upon this subject, and you will, perhaps, apprehend that I am about to subjoin a Utopian plan of national education: no, I leave this to the republic herself, and, wishing all success to her endeavours, I bid your farewell.
