Quotes about Greatness

“I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.” ~ John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

“Do yourself a favor, and realize that there’s no technique in the world that will save you. There are no pills, no secrets, no passwords on the path to greatness. You’ve got to embrace the pain, push the threshold, and feel the suck, and then you’ve got to muster the courage to go back six times a week.” ~ Jon Gilson

“Effort is between you, and you, and nobody else. So that team that thinks it’s ready to see you, they think what they’ve seen on film, they ain’t saw what film shows, because every day is a new day. Every moment is a new moment. So now you’ve got to go out and show them that I’m a different creature now, than I was five minutes ago, cause I’m pissed off for greatness. Cause if you ain’t pissed off for greatness, that just means you’re okay with being mediocre, and ain’t no man in here okay with just basic.” ~ Ray Lewis, Speech for Stanford Basketball Team

“Ninety-nine percent of people believe they can’t do great things, so they aim for mediocrity.” ~ Timothy Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek

“Be the one they want injured in the warmup. Who blurs the line between hate and respect. Who can never be stopped, only feared. Make your mark in each and every game. Today, tomorrow, next saturday.” ~ Unknown

“Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

“For centuries, dreams have been used to communicate instruction and direction to people of purpose – great men and women. God used dreams to prepare Joseph for his future as a leader of nations. He gave battle plans to Gideon in a dream. Joan of Arc, Jacob, George Washington, Marie Curie, and the apostle Paul were all guided by their dreams.”
Andy Andrews, The Traveler’s Gift

“Greatness as a leader is measured in part by your willingness to accept daunting challenges. Achieving tough goals requires practicing the secret of commitment: Risk all to win all.” ~ Toyotomi Hideyoshi, The Swordless Samurai

“We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout.” ~ Epictetus

“The way I like to measure greatness is… How many people can you make want to be better?” ~ Will Smith

“Great individuals make great successes out of failure.” ~ Denis Waitley

“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.” ~ Muhammad Ali

“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

“Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

“The way I measure greatness is: How many people do you affect? In your time on earth, how many people can you affect? How many people can you make want to be better? Or how many people can you inspire?” ~ Will Smith

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” ~ Albert Einstein

“You’ve got to believe deep inside yourself that you’re destined to do great things.” ~ Joe Paterno

“It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.” ~ Seneca

“If you are reading this right now, you have all the makings of Greatness: A heart, a brain, a will, a Soul and a choice. Imagine that.”

“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