Excellence is associated with high quality and perfection.
Coming from the Latin word excellentia , excellence is a word that highlights the considerable quality that makes an individual or object worthy of high esteem and appreciation.
The notion of excellence, therefore, is related to the idea of perfection and outstanding characteristics . The term indicates that which is above the rest and which has few flaws or weak points; in the world of consumption, this may be a product of proven quality or innovation.
Excellence in people
In the case of human beings, excellence refers to some capacity or skill that is out of the ordinary or a talent that is difficult to match. It can also refer to a very high moral condition, although it is more common to find this concept in an academic context or in relation to some artistic discipline. If it is taken as a synonym for perfection, it is a dangerous term, since in order to achieve it, it is necessary that there are no errors or people who prevent us from achieving our goal.
Pursuing excellence in any field of knowledge represents a series of sacrifices that most people are not willing to make. Figure skating, for example, is a discipline that requires beginning studies at an early age, and requires around thirty hours of training a week, all accompanied by an adequate diet and rest in accordance with the amount of exercise. If we add to this the fact that very few manage to become great skaters, capable of making a living from their vocation, and that in general they must submit to countless tournaments and international competitions where a small mistake can mean failure , it is difficult to understand how a passion can become a kind of torture.
Due to his talent, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart demonstrated excellence in the field of music.
Dedication to a vocation
What could be wrong with devoting oneself entirely to the development of a vocation ? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. If it were not for that degree of determination and dedication, we would not be able to marvel at the music of Vivaldi or the books of Ana María Matute. As long as it is a voluntary act, which stems from an authentic need and allows us to fully enjoy our existence, any sacrifice in pursuit of personal growth will be amply rewarded. The problem begins when there are pressures, whether from parents or from the structure of society itself, which overshadow the life of a passionate person with prizes and scores, with empty objectives and malicious comparisons .
However, as much as enjoying one's vocation and living it freely sounds much nicer and fairer than enduring ruthless competitions to achieve public notoriety and, in the best of cases, excellence, the absurd complexity of the structures created by human beings makes it almost impossible to fight against these rules. On the other hand, although sometimes it is hard for us to remember it, we are all free to choose a different path , outside of titles and qualifications, to cultivate our talents in a spontaneous and enjoyable way.
Excellence as a form of respect
Excellency, on the other hand, is the treatment of respect and courtesy that is given to certain subjects for their condition, job or dignity. In Spain , this formula is used by nobles who hold the Grandeza de España (a noble hierarchy): «His Excellency will enter the room in a few moments» , «This dining room was built thanks to a donation from His Excellency the Marquis of Sandoval» .
It should be noted that this form of address can also be used to name judges, diplomats and other authorities: "If Your Excellency allows me, I would like to explain the reasons that led me to make this decision."
"Su Excelencia" is a film released in 1967 starring Mexican actor Cantinflas and directed by Miguel Delgado .