If thou art rich, then show the greatness of thy fortune; or what is better, the greatness of thy soul, in the meekness of thy conversation; condescend to men of low estate, support the distressed, and patronize the neglected. Be great.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
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 true greatness to have in one the frailty of a man and the security of a god.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
Tribes makes our lives better, and leading a tribe is the best life of all.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
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
He is not great who is not greatly good.
—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
The herd seek out the great, not for their sake but for their influence; and the great welcome them out of vanity or need.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
A great man will not trample upon a worm, nor sneak to an emperor.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Great woman belong to history and to self sacrifice.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
The world cannot do without great men, but great men are very troublesome to the world.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
So surely as you find yourself in the mental attitude of haste, just so surely may you know that you are out of the mental attitude of greatness. Hurry and fear will instantly cut your connect with the universal mind.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
However brilliant an action may be, it ought not to pass for great when it is not the result of a great design.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Not a day passes over the earth but men and women of no note do great deeds, speak great words, and suffer noble sorrows. Of these obscure heroes, philosophers, and martyrs the greater part will never be known till that hour when many that were great shall be small, and the small great.
—Charles Reade (1814–84) English Novelist, Playwright
To achieve greatness one should live as if they will never die.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Great men are more distinguished by range and extent than by originality.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
As a madman is apt to think himself grown suddenly great, so he that grows suddenly great is apt to borrow a little from the madman.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The measure of a master is his success in bringing all men around to his opinion twenty years later.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Great men are the guideposts and landmarks in the state.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
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
Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps, and whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
It is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness; and I pronounce it as certain that there was never yet a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Well, I wouldn’t say that I was in the great class, but I had a great time while I was trying to be great.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
I’d rather be a great bad poet than a good bad poet.
—Ogden Nash (1902–71) American Writer of Sophisticated Light Verse
There never was any heart truly great and generous that was not also tender and compassionate.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Go ahead, do something impossible.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
He is great who is what he is from nature, and who never reminds us of others.
—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
A man’s true greatness lies in the consciousness of an honest purpose in life, founded on a just estimate of himself and everything else, on frequent self-examinations, and a steady obedience to the rule which he knows to be right, without troubling himself about what others may think or say, or whether they do or do not that which he thinks and says and does.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
There would be no great men if there were no little ones.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Sighing that Nature formed but one such man, and broke the die.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
He was dull in a new way, and that made many think him great.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
How may a man obtain greatness? By fidelity, truth, and lofty thoughts.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Creativity means believing you have greatness.
—Wayne Dyer (b.1940) American Motivational Writer, Author, Motivational Speaker
All rising to a great place is by a winding stair.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Wisdom is the essential basis of greatness.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
In the truly great, virtue governs with a scepter of knowledge and wisdom.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
The world isn’t kept running because it’s a paying proposition. (God doesn’t make a cent on the deal.) The world goes on because a few men in every generation believe in it utterly, accept it unquestioningly; they underwrite it with their lives.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Great men are the commissioned guides of mankind, who rule their fellows because they are wiser.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Greatness does not approach him who is forever looking down.
—The Hitopadesha Indian Collection of Fables
Great men are the real men, in them nature has succeeded.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning. Great works are often born on a street corner or in a restaurant’s revolving door.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Great merit, or great failings, will make you respected or despised; but trifles, little attentions, mere nothings, either done or neglected, will make you either liked or disliked in the general run of the world.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
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
Whatever you are, be a good one.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
False greatness is unsociable and remote: conscious of its own frailty, it hides, or at least averts its face, and reveals itself only enough to create an illusion and not be recognized as the meanness that it really is. True greatness is free, kind, familiar and popular; it lets itself be touched and handled, it loses nothing by being seen at close quarters; the better one knows it, the more one admires it.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Great minds must be ready not only to take opportunities, but to make them.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Do not talk about your greatness; you are really, in essential nature, no great than those around you.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author