“Mediocrity doesn’t always mean underperforming—it’s a sliding scale and a state of mind. It means settling in and succumbing to stasis. Mediocrity comes from the Latin words medius, meaning middle, and ocris, meaning a rugged mountain. Literally it means to settle halfway to the summit of a difficult mountain. It’s a compromise of abilities and potential; a negotiation between the drive to excel and the biological urge to settle for the most comfortable option.”
Sometimes mediocrity can be a trap. It’s not quite bad enough to make you quit, but it’s certainly not lighting your fire on a daily basis.
medius (middle) + ocris (rugged mountain) = Mediocrity.
Literally meaning to stop halfway to the summit of a rugged mountain. Or to give up when it gets tuff.
Which leads to the “Lives of quiet desperation” that most men lead.
Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
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