New Delhi, June 13 -- "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle

At its core, LiveMint's quote for the day by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle shifts the focus of human potential from grand, one-time moments of inspiration to daily consistency.

To understand the quote, it helps to break it into its two distinct parts:

"We are what we repeatedly do."

Your identity is the sum total of your regular actions. If you write every day, you are a writer. If you practice a sport every day, you are an athlete. Conversely, if you repeatedly procrastinate, procrastination becomes a defining trait, not just a passing phase. Identity follows action.

"Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."...