Qǔ fǎ hū shàng, jing dé hū zhōng; (qǔ fǎ hū zhōng, jin dé hū qí xià).*

取法乎上, 竟得乎中; (取法乎中, 僅得乎其下)。

Lit [If one] takes as a model the best, [one can] make only a mediocre [copy]; ([if one] takes as [one's] model mediocrity, [one will] get something inferior [to that]).

Fig Aim high or you'll fall below average.

Note [Also said gǔ fǎ hū shàng, dé hū qí zhōng; qǔ fǎ hū; and fǎ hū qí shàng, jìn dé qí zhōng; fǎ hū qí zhōng, zé dé qí xià (q.v.).]

Topics AMBITION COPYING EXAMPLE GOALS MODELS QUALITY