Once my friend had a chance to inquire of the man with the marvellous skill how he succeeded in Outdoing them so completely, and then he learned that no talent was involved, but a simple psychological device, almost a trick.
"Psychology and Social Sanity"
Hugo Münsterberg
Everyone Outdoing himself in sweet reasonableness and persuasive argument-hardly an undignified note anywhere.
"The Letters of William James, Vol. II"
William James
The wistaria was tumbling over itself in its excess of life, its prodigality of flowering; and where the pergola ended the sun blazed on scarlet geraniums, bushes of them, and nasturtiums in great heaps, and marigolds so brilliant that they seemed to be burning, and red and pink snapdragons, all Outdoing each other in bright, fierce colour.
"The Enchanted April"
Elizabeth von Arnim