A great man’s greatest good luck is to die at the right time.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
If you want to be important – that’s wonderful. If you want to be great – that’s wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s your new definition of greatness – it means that everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know the second law of thermodynamics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love…
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
What are numbers knit
By force or custom? Man who man would be,
Must rule the empire of himself; in it
Must be supreme, establishing his throne
On vanquished will, quelling the anarchy
Of hopes and fears, being himself alone.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
What millions died that Caesar might be great?
—Joseph Campbell (1904–87) American Author, Mythologist
Nothing great in this world has been accomplished without passion.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) German Philosopher
It was not reason that besieged Troy; it was not reason that sent forth the Saracen from the desert to conquer the world; that inspired the crusades; that instituted the monastic orders; it was not reason that produced the Jesuits; above all, it was not reason that created the French Revolution. Man is only great when he acts from the passions; never irresistible but when he appeals to the imagination.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–96) American Abolitionist, Author
They’re only truly great who are truly good.
—George Chapman (c.1560–1634) English Poet, Playwright
He is great who is what he is from nature, and who never reminds us of others.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it; to go through intrigue spotless; to forego even ambition when the end is gained—who can say this is not greatness?
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
A great thing can only be done by a great person; and they do it without effort.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Whatever you are, be a good one.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.
—Herodotus (c.485–425 BCE) Ancient Greek Historian
We shall never resolve the enigma of the relation between the negative foundations of greatness and that greatness itself.
—Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007) French Sociologist, Philosopher
I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.
—Ray Charles (1930–2004) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
He was dull in a new way, and that made many think him great.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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
It is not difficult to get away into retirement; and there live upon your own convictions; nor is it difficult to mix with men and follow their convictions; but to enter into the world; and there live firmly and fearlessly according to your own conscience; that is Christian greatness.
—Unknown
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
Th abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The difference between Socrates and Jesus? The great conscious and the immeasurably great unconscious.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Great woman belong to history and to self sacrifice.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Greatness be nothing unless it be lasting.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Sighing that Nature formed but one such man, and broke the die.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Those who intend on becoming great should love neither themselves or their own things, but only what is just, whether it happens to be done by themselves or others.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
No man is truly great who is great only in his own lifetime. The test of greatness is the page of history.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Some have greatness thrust upon them, but not lately.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
To have a great man for a friend seems pleasant to those who have never tried it; those who have, fear it.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
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
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