Choose quality, not quantity.

Meaning: It is better to have a few things that are well-made and durable than to have many things that are cheaply made and break easily.

Choice of Words: To choose something means to select it from a group of options, while quality refers to the degree of excellence or worth of something and quantity refers to the amount of something. When you put them together, "Choose quality, not quantity" means that it is better to choose things that are of good quality, even if you have fewer of them.

Alternative Expressions

Pick the best, not the most.

Meaning: This is similar to the first sentence, but it emphasizes that you should choose the thing that is the highest quality, not the thing that you have the most of. For example, you might choose to spend your time with one really good friend instead of a bunch of friends who you don't know as well.

Choice of Words: Pick is another word for choose. Best means the one that is the most excellent or desirable. Not is a word that negates the meaning of the next word. Most means the greatest number or amount. When you put them together, "Pick the best, not the most" means that you should choose the thing that is the best, not the thing that you have the most of.

Go for the gold, not the silver.

Meaning: This is a more figurative way of saying that you should choose the best thing, not the second best thing. For example, you might choose to work hard in school to get good grades so that you can go to the best college possible.

Choice of Words: Go is a verb that means to move or travel somewhere. For is a preposition that means to indicate a purpose or goal. Gold is a precious metal that is often used to make jewelry and coins. Not is a word that negates the meaning of the next word. Silver is another precious metal that is less valuable than gold. When you put them together, "Go for the gold, not the silver" means that you should aim for the best, not the second best.

Related Expressions