41 Greatness Quotes

Every so often, we come across words that resonate deeply, powerful enough to inspire, motivate, and ignite a sense of purpose. In the quest for greatness, the wisdom of others can be a guiding star, lighting the path ahead. With this in mind, we’ve carefully curated a collection of the top 41 greatness quotes, each offering a unique perspective on achieving and embodying greatness. Whether you’re seeking motivation, reflection, or a spark of inspiration, these quotes serve as a reminder of the extraordinary potential within us all. Join us as we explore these timeless words of wisdom that continue to inspire greatness in our everyday lives.

1. “Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. “Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.” - Judy Garland

3. “A mans life is interesting primarily when he has failed. I well know. For its a sign that he tried to surpass himself.” - Georges Clemenceau

4. “Robert G. Ingersoll was a great man. a wonderful intellect, a great soul of matchless courage, one of the great men of the earth -- and yet we have no right to bow down to his memory simply because he was great. Great orators, great soldiers, great lawyers, often use their gifts for a most unholy cause. We meet to pay a tribute of love and respect to Robert G. Ingersoll because he used his matchless power for the good of man.{Darrow's eulogy for Ingersoll at his funeral}” - Clarence Darrow

5. “If you can't do great things, Mother Teresa used to say, do little things with great love. If you can't do them with great love, do them with a little love. If you can't do them with a little love, do them anyway.Love grows when people serve.” - John Ortberg

6. “Mithorden: 'He was brilliant, yes, but ready to laugh at himself when he made mistakes. You may not believe it, but he made mistakes often.'Luthiel: 'Why?' She choked around her tears.Mithorden: 'Because he tried to do great things. Anyone can succeed at easy things. But the things Valkire tried were very difficult. He wanted to make things better for people of all races -- for he saw the good in them.” - Robert Fanney

7. “If woman had no existence save in the fiction written by men, one would imagine her a person of the utmost importance (...); as great as a man, some think even greater. But this is woman in fiction. In fact, as Professor Trevelyan points out [in his History of England], she was locked up, beaten and flung about the room.” - Virginia Woolf

8. “It's because I haven't courage,' said Samuel. 'I could never quite take the responsibility. When the Lord God did not call my name, I might have called his name - but I did not. There you have the difference between greatness and mediocrity. It's not an uncommon disease. But it's nice for a mediocre man to know that greatness must be the loneliest state in the world.''I'd think there are degrees of greatness,' Adam said.'I don't think so,' said Samuel. 'That would be like saying there is a little bigness. No. I believe when you come to that responsibility the hugeness and you are alone to make your choice. On one side you have warmth and companionship and sweet understanding, and on the other - cold, lonely greatness. There you make your choice. I'm glad I chose mediocrity, but how am I to say what reward might have come with the other? None of my children will be great either, except perhaps Tom. He's suffering over the choosing right now. It's a painful thing to watch. And somewhere in me I want him to say yes. Isn't that strange? A father to want his son condemned to greatness! What selfishness that must be.” - John Steinbeck

9. “You were born with potential. You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don't. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly.” - Rumi

10. “When you are destined for greatness, it shows in everything you do.It becomes you. Greatness becomes you.” - Lorii Myers

11. “Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three.” - Stanley Wolpert

12. “There are times when the world is rearranging itself, and at times like that, the right words can change the world.” - Orson Scott Card

13. “Abraham Lincoln was asked by an aide about the church service he had attended. Lincoln responded that the minister was inspired, interesting, well-prepared, eloquent and the topic relevant. The aide said, “Then it was a good service?” Lincoln responded, “No.” The aide protested, “But, Mr. President, you said that the minister was inspired, interesting, well-prepared, eloquent, and that the topic was relevant.” “Yes,” replied Lincoln, “but he didn’t challenge us to do any great thing.” - Abraham Lincoln

14. “God is a God of purpose. He doesn't wake-up and start dabbling into things; He doesn't practice trial and error. His ways are sure, they may be low but they are always sure.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

15. “You don't need to go running from pillar to post looking for what God looks like.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

16. “Your words are powerful so what you say goes a long way to either establish or destroy you; this is why you should say things that God has said concerning you, not things that situations or circumstances say.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

17. “Weigh whatever you are about to say; what will it do to your hearer - encouragement, edification, disappointment or fear? What will it do to your life - glorify, edify, beautify or weigh you down? Speak well and things will go well.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

18. “Dominate in your domain; You can do it.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

19. “Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

20. “Our Christian destiny is, in fact, a great one: but we cannot achieve greatness unless we lose all interest in being great. For our own idea of greatness is illusory, and if we pay too much attention to it we will be lured out of the peace and stability of the being God gave us, and seek to live in a myth we have created for ourselves. And when we are truly ourselves we lose most of the futile self-consciousness that keeps us constantly comparing ourselves with others in order to see how big we are.” - Thomas Merton

21. “remember when God has answered you, it no longer matters who has been against you but for Him to answer you and change your story, you have to make up your mind to disobey the wrong order, change the status quo and BE DIFFERENT!” - Agu, Jaachynma N.E.

22. “You can change any status quo, stand out, walk by faith and not by sight and things will definitely go well with you.” - Agu, Jaachynma N.E.

23. “Don't just float through life; don't just agree to anything and everything, have a course you are known for at all times.” - Agu, Jaachynma N.E.

24. “إن تَسَلْ أين قبورُ العُظما فعلى الأفواه أو في الأنفُسْ” - أحمد شوقي

25. “Nay, could their numbers countervail the stars,Or ever-drizzling drops of April showers,Or wither'd leaves that autumn shaketh down,Yet would the Soldan by his conquering powerSo scatter and consume them in his rage, That not a man should live to rue their fall.” - Christopher Marlowe

26. “Rise to the challenge of bringing your dreams to life! Do not be discouraged by resistance, be nourished by it. Success is the experience of rising to the level of your true greatness.” - Steve Maraboli

27. “An average man is egoistic, proud and has strong self esteem. They always require partners who massage their ego not those who will drag their ego to the mud.” - Agu, Jaachynma N.E.

28. “A responsible woman guides, controls (albeit subtly), directs with superior knowledge that is higher than that of her contemporaries!” - Agu, Jaachynma N.E.

29. “Happiness is a state of mind and not a state of possession. Be as you are and you will be happy, if you try to be someone else you will be miserable.” - Apoorve Dubey

30. “The idea isn't to do the impossible. The idea is to show the world that if one man can do the impossible, then maybe the rest of the world can do what's possible.” - Jonathan Malley

31. “Great men know how to control two things; their women and money.” - Habeeb Akande

32. “Be positive at all times! Leave out the negatives.” - Agu Jaachynma N E

33. “Don`t turn around in circles for making circles do not equate making progress.” - Agu Jaachynma N E

34. “Move forward for forward is progress but circles are movement.” - Agu Jaachynma N E

35. “Decide to be rich! Hate poverty strong.” - Agu Jaachynma N E

36. “You have been called to a life of blessing, don`t descend to that of curses.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

37. “Desire to give and not always receive.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

38. “The giver is the blessed! The receiver stands still.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

39. “You are created with a mandate! You have all you need to fulfill it.” - Jaachynma N.E. Agu

40. “Greatness lies not in high or outstanding ability. It lies simply in the willingness to use what we have for others. The greater the `other people` dimension, the greater our personal `greatness`.” - Chairman Mao

41. “Tom's cowardice was as huge as his courage, as it must be in great men.” - John Steinbeck