The essence of greatness is the perception that virtue is enough.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Since most of us spend our lives doing ordinary tasks, the most important thing is to carry them out extraordinarily well.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The great must submit to the dominion of prudence and virtue, or none will long submit to the dominion of the great.—This is a feudal tenure which they cannot alter.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
In heaven an angel is nobody in particular.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
There’s hope a great man’s memory may outlive his life half a year.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
If there isn’t a good reason, go home. If there is, then do something … loud, now, and memorable.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
In life we shall find many men that are great, and some men that are good, but very few men that are both great and good.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Every great man nowadays has his disciples, and it is always Judas who writes the biography.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Every great man is unique.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There is but one method, and that is hard labor; and a man who will not pay that price for greatness had better at once dedicate himself to the pursuit of the fox, or to talk of bullocks, and glory in the goad.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
A really great man is known by three signs—generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success.
—Otto von Bismarck (1815–98) German Chancellor, Prime Minister
Great people are meteors designed to burn so that the earth may be lighted.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
A great, a good, and a right mind is a kind of divinity lodged in flesh, and may be the blessing of a slave as well as of a prince: it came from heaven, and to heaven it must return; and it is a kind of heavenly felicity, which a pure and virtuous mind enjoys, in some degree, even upon earth.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
All your youth you want to have your greatness taken for granted; when you find it taken for granted, you are unnerved.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
The dullard’s envy of brilliant men is always assuaged by the suspicion that they will come to a bad end.
—Max Beerbohm (1872–1956) British Essayist, Caricaturist, Novelist
Do not despise the bottom rungs in the ascent to greatness.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than any material force, that thoughts rule the world.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There would be no great men if there were no little ones.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it. Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your Ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.
—James Allen (1864–1912) British Philosophical Writer
It’s not what you take but what you leave behind that defines greatness.
—Howard Gardner (b.1943) American Cognitive Psychologist
Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
There are people who possess not so much genius as a certain talent for perceiving the desires of the century, or even of the decade, before it has done so itself.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Great crises produce great men and great deeds of courage.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Success is all about consistency around the fundamentals.
—Robin Sharma (b.1964) Canadian Writer, Motivational Speaker
Faith—not a faith in one’s self or in one’s own powers but faith in principle; in the Something Great which upholds right, and which may be relied upon to give us the victory in due time. Without this faith it is not possible for any one to rise to real greatness.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
You don’t have to deserve your mother’s love. You have to deserve your father’s. He’s more particular. The father is always a Republican towards his son, and his mother’s always a Democrat.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
It doesn’t take great men to do things, but it is doing things that make men great.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
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