The world cannot do without great men, but great men are very troublesome to the world.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
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
He only is great who has the habits of greatness; who, after performing what none in ten thousand could accomplish, passes on like Samson, and “tells neither father nor mother of it.”
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
When kids grow up wanting to be you, you matter.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
Great minds are like eagles, and build their nest in some lofty solitude.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
He who is great when he fails is great in his prostration, and is no more an object of contempt than when men tread on the ruins of sacred buildings, which lien of piety venerate no less than if they stood.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
A solemn and religious regard to spiritual and eternal things is an indispensable element of all true greatness.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
Doing justice to the work is your task, not setting a world record.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Great and good are seldom the same man.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, 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
Nothing in life is more remarkable than the unnecessary anxiety which we endure, and generally create ourselves.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
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
Greatness is a spiritual condition.
—Matthew Arnold (1822–88) English Poet, Critic
Johnson well says, “He who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything.” Life is made up of little things. It is very rarely that an occasion is offered for doing a great deal at once. True greatness consists in being great in little things.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
Every individual has a place to fill in the world, and is important in some respect, whether he chooses to be so or not.
—Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–64) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
The truly great consider first, how they may gain the approbation of God; and secondly, that of their own conscience; having done this, they would then willingly conciliate the good opinion of their fellowmen.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Greatness after all, in spite of its name, appears to be not so much a certain size as a certain quality in human lives. It may be present in lives whose range is very small.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
When the legacy you leave behind lasts for hours, days or a lifetime, you matter.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
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
It doesn’t take great men to do things, but it is doing things that make men great.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
There’s hope a great man’s memory may outlive his life half a year.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
To a mathematician the eleventh means only a single unit : to the bushman who cannot count further than his ten fingers it is an incalculable myriad.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Let us consider the nature of true greatness in men. The people who can catch hold of men’s minds and feelings and inspire them to do things bigger than themselves are the people who are remembered in history… . those who stir feelings and imagination and make men struggle toward perfection.
—Henry Eyring (1901–81) Mexico-born American Physical Chemist
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
If you would attain greatness, think no little thoughts.
—Unknown
A good man, is a good man, whether in this church, or out of it.
—Brigham Young (1801–77) American Mormon Leader
All rising to a great place is by a winding stair.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness—great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
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
Despite everybody who has been born and has died, the world has just gone on. I mean, look at Napoleon—but we went right on. Look at Harpo Marx—the world went around, it didn’t stop for a second. It’s sad but true. John Kennedy, right?
—Bob Dylan (b.1941) American Singer-songwriter
Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He who comes up to his own idea of greatness, must always have had a very low standard of it in his mind.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Not he is great who can alter matter, but he who can alter my state of mind.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
You can do anything you wish to do, have anything you wish to have, be anything you wish to be.
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
In heaven an angel is nobody in particular.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
With such ardent eyes he wandered o’er me, and gazed with such intensity of love, sending his soul out to me in a look.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
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
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
A great person is one who affects the mind of their generation.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
There is a great man who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
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
Great men are more distinguished by range and extent than by originality.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
He who comes up to his own idea of greatness must always have had a very low standard of it in mind.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
I shall not remain insignificant, I shall work in the world for mankind….I don’t want to have lived in vain like most people. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living, even after my death.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
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
Luck is always waiting for something to turn up. Labor, with keen eyes and strong will, always turns up something. Luck lies in bed and wishes the postman will bring news of a legacy. Labor turns out at six o’clock and with busy pen or ringing hammer, lays the foundation of a competence. Luck whines. Labor whistles. Luck relies on chance, labor on character.
—Richard Cobden
The character of greatness must be measured in two ways, else the measurement is flawed. First, and by far most popular of all, is by one’s ability to succeed in times of trial where others may fail. But of no less importance, and perhaps foundational to any form of greatness, is one’s willingness to start over in spite of failure, when success seems farthest away.
—Guy Finley
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