19 Metaphors for greatness

Not pow'r I blame, but pow'r obtain'd by crime; Angelick greatness is angelick virtue.

But he would do nothing as taskwork, and his creative brain loved better to invent than to execute.[250] "Of a truth," continues his biographer, "there is good reason to believe that the very greatness of his most exalted mind, aiming at more than could be effected, was itself an impediment; perpetually seeking to add excellence to excellence and perfection to perfection.

As for those characters and marks of distinction which religion, law, and morality fix upon both, they are only significant and valid when their authority is able to command obedience and submission; but when the greatness, numbers, or interest of those who are concerned outgrows that, they change their natures, and that which was injury before becomes justice, and justice injury.

The greatness of the fleshy world is one thing; the greatness of the no-fleshy world is another.

Greatness and littleness are terms merely comparative; and we err in our estimation of things, because we measure them by some wrong standard.

The only greatness is unselfish love.

She had now reached her fifty-third year; she was no longer necessary to the fortunes of the man whose greatness had been her own work, and she had ceased to interest him either as a woman or as a Queen.

"Andwhen he thinks, good easy man, full surely His greatness is a ripeningnips his root.

Greatness in repose, most people say, is the highest aim of plastic art.

So it inevitably follows that the greatness of the artist is the limitation of his art,that he expresses in his work himself as much as his subject, but no more of the latter than he can comprehend and appreciate.

We can be certain too that he will hear us, just because he is so great, so majestic, so glorious; because his greatness, and majesty, and glory is a moral and spiritual greatness, which shows itself by stooping to the meanest, by listening to the most foolish, helping the weakest, pitying the worst, even while it is bound to punish.

The first successes of the South are a catastrophe; the greatness of the South will be a catastrophe; and, if the South ever realize in part the iniquitous hopes towards which it is rushing, the catastrophe will acquire unheard-of proportions; it will be a St. Domingo carried to the tenth power.

They are both imperfections, it is true; but to be imperfect being their essence, the very greatness of their imperfection becomes their perfection.

But more than any material greatness are the imperishable lyrics he bequeathed to all ages and nations, in which are unfolded the varied experiences of a good man in his warfare with the world, the flesh, and the devil,those priceless utterances which portray every passion that can move the human soul.

This is the State of Man!to-day he puts forth The tender Leaves of Hopes; to-morrow Blossoms, And bears his blushing Honours thick upon him, The third Day comes a Frost, a killing Frost, And when he thinks, good easie Man, full surely His Greatness is a ripening, nips his Root,

While Charles vigorously put down the revolted Spaniards, Luther gained new proselytes in Germany; so that the very greatness of the sovereignty was the cause of his impotency; and while Charles's extent of dominion thus fostered the growing Reformation, his sense of honor proved the safeguard of its apostle.

THE GREATNESS OF FRIENDSHIP From 'Woman's Friendship' It is the fashion to deride woman's influence over woman, to laugh at female friendship, to look with scorn on all those who profess it; but perhaps the world at large little knows the effect of this influence,how often the unformed character of a young, timid, and gentle girl may be influenced for good or evil by the power of an intimate female friend.

Then the Queen turned from love to hate, and the greatness of her passion became the measure of her wrath, for very evilly she spoke of Graelent to the King.

Like many other animals we could name, his greatness was his mortal foeand as Hume grew too pursy to write, so our four-footed friend became too gross to climb.

19 Metaphors for  greatness