Great men are more distinguished by range and extent than by originality.
Interpretation
True greatness stems from a broad understanding and acceptance rather than merely from original ideas.
Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests that the mark of truly great individuals lies not just in their unique creations or thoughts but in their ability to encompass and synthesize a wide array of experiences and knowledge. Greatness is characterized by breadth and depth in understanding rather than isolated originality, highlighting the importance of learning from various sources and perspectives.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of collaboration and teamwork, one could use this quote to emphasize the value of learning from others.
It is plain that there is no separate essence called courage, no cup or cell in the brain, no vessel in the heart containing drops or atoms that make or give this virtue; but it is the right or healthy state of every man, when he is free to do that which is constitutional to him to do.
Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.
Men cease to interest us when we find their limitations
Tis the good reader that makes the good book; a good head cannot read amiss: in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakeably meant for his ear.
The world belongs to the energetic.
Hast thou named all the birds without a gun?
It seems to me that, in every culture, I come across a chapter headed 'Wisdom.' And then I know exactly what is going to follow: 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.'
Anything that is secret and mysterious in this system of Yoga should be at once rejected. The best guide in life is strength. In spirituality, as in all other matters, discard everything that weakens you. Have nothing to do with it. Mystery-mongering weakens the human brain. It has well-nigh destroyed Yoga, one of the grandest of sciences
Any decent person who knows what warfare is can never go into battle with a whole heart.
Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and his will first in everything you do.
You can judge the quality of their faith from the way they behave. Discipline is an index to doctrine.
I believe many people feel like God is mad at them. One day I put a post on Facebook that said, 'God is not mad at you.' Within a few hours, we literally had thousands of positive responses from people saying things like, 'That is exactly what I needed to hear today.' Obviously, this is a message we need to hear.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.