Great men are true men, the men in whom nature has succeeded. They are not extraordinary -- they are in the true order. It is the other species of men who are not what they ought to be.

The dullard's envy of brilliant men is always assuaged by the suspicion that they will come to a bad end.

The herd seek out the great, not for their sake but for their influence; and the great welcome them out of vanity or need.

The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender.

No one who has come to true greatness has not felt in some degree that his life belongs to the people, and what God has given them he gives it for mankind.

What millions died that Caesar might be great?

No great man lives in vain. The history of the world is but the biography of great men.

I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.

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.

Man is only truly great when he acts from his passions.

I can write good songs. I can sing 'em, and I mean it, I mean it deeply, and I pour everything into that. Other than that, I suck.

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?

No great man ever complains of want of opportunity.

Not he is great who can alter matter, but he who can alter my state of mind.

The search after the great men is the dream of youth, and the most serious occupation of manhood.

There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet.

There would be no great men if there were no little ones.

Great men are rarely isolated mountain-peaks; they are the summits of ranges.

Greatness does not approach him who is forever looking down.

The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.

Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.

I want to be great, something special.

In our society those who are in reality superior in intelligence can be accepted by their fellows only if they pretend they are not.

Let us never forget that the greatest man is never more than an animal disguised as a god.

Nobody's ever the greatest anything.

Greatness, in order to gain recognition, must all too often consent to ape greatness.

A great thing can only be done by a great person; and they do it without effort.

Great men are like eagles, and build their nest on some lofty solitude.

Be not afraid of greatness; some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.

He is not great who is not greatly good.

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.

If you would attain greatness, think no little thoughts.

It is necessary to be slightly under employed if you are to do something significant.

A good man, is a good man, whether in this church, or out of it.