Greatness, generally speaking, is an unusual quantity of a usual quality grafted upon a common man.
—William Allen White (1868–1944) American Editor, Politician, Author
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
Subtract from the great man all that he owes to opportunity, all that he owes to chance, and all that he has gained by the wisdom of his friends and the folly of his enemies, and the giant will often be seen to be a pigmy.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
To achieve greatness one should live as if they will never die.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He was dull in a new way, and that made many think him great.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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
I’d rather be a great bad poet than a good bad poet.
—Ogden Nash (1902–71) American Writer of Sophisticated Light Verse
Choose to be in close proximity to people who are empowering, who appeal to your sense of connection to intention, who see the greatness in you, who feel connected to God, who live a life that gives evidence that Spirit has found celebration through them.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
What millions died that Caesar might be great?
—Joseph Campbell (1904–87) American Mythologist, Writer, Lecturer
Every great man is unique.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Everything great is not always good, but all good things are great.
—Demosthenes (384–322 BCE) Greek Statesman, Orator
Forget about likes and dislikes. They are of no consequence. Just do what must be done. This may not be happiness but it is greatness.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
There are three marks of a superior man; being virtuous, he is free from anxiety; being wise, he is free from perplexity; being brave, he is free from fear.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower when I thought a flower would grow.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Not he is great who can alter matter, but he who can alter my state of mind.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A great person is one who affects the mind of their generation.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
In estimating the greatness of great men, the inverted law of the physical stands for the intellectual and spiritual nature—the former is lessened by distance, the latter increased.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
No great man ever complains of want of opportunity.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The difference between Socrates and Jesus? The great conscious and the immeasurably great unconscious.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
When the legacy you leave behind lasts for hours, days or a lifetime, you matter.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Times of general calamity and collusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the lightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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 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
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 the commissioned guides of mankind, who rule their fellows because they are wiser.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
I do not believe great organizations have ever been built by trying to emulate another, any more than individual greatness is achieved by trying to copy another “great person”.
—Peter Senge (b.1947) American Management Consultant, Author, Scientist
The difference between the shallowest routineer and the deepest thinker appears, to the latter, trifling ; to the former, infinite.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Greatness once and forever has down with opinion.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I distrust Great Men. They produce a desert of uniformity around them and often a pool of blood too, and I always feel a little man’s pleasure when they come a cropper.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist