George Santayana Quotes

I believe the first test of a truly great man is in his humility.

The greatest man is he who chooses the Right with invincible resolution, who resists the sorest temptations from within and without, who bears the heaviest burdens cheerfully, who is calmest in storms and most fearless under menace and frowns, whose reliance on truth, on virtue, on God, is most unfaltering. I believe this greatness to be most common among the multitude, whose names are never heard.

Brains and character rule the world. The most distinguished Frenchman of the last century said: Men succeed less by their talents than their character. There were scores of men a hundred years ago who had more intellect than Washington. He outlives and overrides them all by the influence of his character.

Wisdom and courage make mutual contributions to greatness.

When you're talkin' about a great man, you're not talking more than one person. It's not about how many people are followin' you, it's about the fact that you're a great man, that's all it's about.

It is not the places which grace men, but men the places.

When you hear 'experience,' that's all about resume. And Obama didn't have the resume. But we knew, long before that, 'steady in a crisis' was much more important than 'experience.' When you watched the presidential campaign, you saw that Obama was the one who happened to be steady... He demonstrated aspects of his character people were hungry for.

I don't want to just be a great fighter, but also a great man.

Character is in turn the enduring source of virtue. It stands by itself and excites admiration in others. It is not obedience to authority, and while it is often consistent with and reinforced by religious belief, it is not piety.

In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.

Meekness is one of the brightest graces which can adorn the Christian character.

Only he can judge of matters great and high whose soul is likewise.

You would not think any duty small, If you yourself were great.

Great leadership is not attained by pursuing greatness but by persevering through great tests.

Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.

It is the prerogative of great men only to have great defects.

Great leaders always have self-discipline -without exception.

He's very competitive and knows what he wants. He has developed toughness in character and that is what is needed for Indian cricket. Ganguly has proved to be one of the best captains. He has now acquired great leadership qualities.

Great men are sincere.

A king is a man strong of character and conviction who leads by example and truly cares for the suffering of his people,not a brute who rules simply because he is the strongest.

All great virtues become great men.

Not every great man is a grand human being.

Greatness knows itself.

Character: the grandest thing in the world.