If you want to be better than others... Does that make you egotist and greedy?

Agree with above in that "better" needs to be qualified. Better for what? I think we all have our things we're good at, and things we're not so good at. And some situations seem to favor our strengths, while others seem to bring out our worst. But if we watch too many action movies, we can start to believe some people(like the good-guy or hero of the film) are just good at everything. Albert Einstein was really good at science, but terrible at being a husband and father. And then there are millions who are great husbands and fathers but will never make the cover of Time magazine or have a Wiki article written about them, never invent a life changing technology, or make a billion dollars. But they DID put just one more happy person into the world, as opposed to an angry/hurt one that makes everyone around them miserable.

Nothing wrong with wanting to improve oneself. It's part of what gives life meaning, striving for more and better. But when one seems a bit obsessed and is always COMPARING themselves to others, l tend to think low self-esteem is involved. In a way it IS striving for more and better. But it's seems a bit more apt to say it's seeking relief from feelings of unworthiness and being unlovable. And it does seem jerky because when this is the motivator, we can never be happy for another's successes or achievements(and even be resentful of them), because these things are a direct threat to our own sense of self-worth. And it never seems enough, because it only offers temporary relief.

Not necessarily, but it's a false belief that you can be better or worse than other people. People are only better or worse than you imagine them to be, and everyone has a different imagination. Someone you think is better, someone else will think is the worst, or vice versa, there's no real order to it. Comparing people is like comparing whether a tiger is better than a lion, one isn't better than the other, they're just doing different things to suit their needs and make the most of the environment they live in. That's all everyone is doing. To better yourself you have to focus on doing what's best for you in the moment instead of fantasizing where you are compared to other people. If a lion spent it's time trying to be a tiger, it wouldn't become better, it would just become really crap at being a lion.

I think it must be how a person presents or represents himself, or herself. There is nothing wrong with healthy competition. And barring any claims to a title, in which case is delusional--egotistical and greedy are left to restraint for the subject, and invalid as an object

In some respects, yes, but not all. Having a competitive nature, and striving to out do others as a method of self-improvement and building self-esteem is not only naturally healthy, but increases the likelihood of success in life. This can be achieved without egotism, which often involves an over-inflated sense of self and entitled mentality, rather than a hard working and responsible one. Greed ends up leaving others with very little or nothing at all. Being "number one" can be inclusive of thankfulness and gratitude for ones circumstance, as well as respect for the field of competition. One can be dedicated to "success" rather than to "winning." The ego wants to be better than others in vain and superficial aspects, which can be distinguished from applying ones mind and effort.

If you are driven purely on the basis of YOUR comparing yourself to others - that is a desire to best others rather than improve yourself - then I would say yes, that "egotist" and greedy applies to you. That said, I think that it is the very few that do not harbor this sort of motive - and these folks are truly exceptional and add to the welfare of the human population to a much greater degree than the egoists who's imagination is hampered by their motive.

A great example of the more admirable motive is Einstein who did what he did simply because he wanted to and enjoyed it - and remained humble (take a look at "Out of my Later Years" ). I can name numerous past mathematicians who also did not have the "egoist infection".

no because egoism and arrogance are like the pillars of being human, without those the society will ignore you and you will fail at everything, you can only enjoy being kind if you ignore society which is not an easy thing. if you want people's attention the #1 rule is to be selfish. otherwise there are too many motherfuckers who will use the kind as a ladder to achieve what they want. but life is cool and it's fun to live either way(believe me if you're not used to being egocentric it won't be easy for the first time until you get used to it), but you weren't born to do what i or anybody else wants you to do, you were born to be yourself and to do whatever you want, so always choose your own path in life, clear your mind of the society's ideas and beliefs, develop your own because it's the only path towards being successful. look at every famous person alive, they have been successful only because they created their own ideas, you exist for a far bigger purpose than to prevent being called egotist or greedy, you exist to explore and to invent.

and the only way to be better than the others is to believe that you are and to not ignore yourself, you can never avoid criticism. it's in a human's nature to be critic.

There's probably a better way to phrase the question, but no. It simply means that you desire to be go above and beyond the standards laid out by society. Working harder than others and striving to be a better person by being kinder, selfless and more respectful is one way. Another way is in a certain field or career path. But part of being "better" than someone else is to not treat others as if they are below you. Everyone is created equal, but all of us can work to become greater than others.

If you want to be better than others... Does that make you egotist and greedy?

~~~ Yes, it does.

Would you like me to walk you through it?

I am the biggest ego on the block and I know about ego!

So, yes, it is all ego, whether it is your desire to be a 'better' (egoic judgment) human than others, or a better golfer, it is all judgment (vanity) and desire.

The ego = imagination/thought!

You 'are' only 'better' than anyone/thing in your imagination.

What can make you better than others?

~~~ Your imagination! *__-

It makes you a greedy, egotistic ambitionists.

Sarcastically speaking of course

One should be better than others in physical self-discipline, mental control, social orderliness and strict adherence to some highest level of moral standards. One should excel and be perfect. I want crystal clear mind and pristine pure heart. I don't want to be selfish or egotistic. I want to sacrifice comforts for the sake of discipline. I want to maintain austerity so that it is easy to have equitable distribution of wealth.