--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Greatness consists in trying to be great…" description: "\"Greatness consists in trying to be great. There is no other way.\" — Albert Camus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/albert-camus-47_greatness_greatness-consists-in-trying-to-be-great_1253396.jpg" --- # Greatness consists in trying to be great. There is no… ![“Greatness consists in trying to be great. There is no other way.” quote by Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/albert-camus-47_greatness_greatness-consists-in-trying-to-be-great_1253396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/albert-camus-47_greatness_greatness-consists-in-trying-to-be-great_1253396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e5/albert-camus-47_greatness_greatness-consists-in-trying-to-be-great_1253396.jpg) > “Greatness consists in trying to be great. There is no other way.” [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness requires continual effort to be exemplary; there is no shortcut. **In simple terms:** Being great means constantly striving. Key Takeaway Commit to persistent self‑improvement. Themes philosophy ethics self‑development excellence determination Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - artistic practice - sports training Key Concepts existentialism virtue ethics personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance effort with rest? - Is greatness always measurable? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on effort can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-way/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Greatness Consists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness-consists-551638/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-great-1040778/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Mary's greatness consists in the fact that she wants to magnify God, not herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/mary-s-greatness-consists-in-the-fact-that-she-wants-to-magnify-god/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Greatness consists in deciding only what is necessary for the welfare of the country and making straight for the goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/greatness-consists-in-deciding-only-what-is-necessary-for-the-welfare/) [Mustafa Kemal Ataturk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/) > [True greatness consists in the use of a powerful understanding to enlighten oneself and others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/true-greatness-consists-in-the-use-of-a-powerful-understanding-to/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Greatness consists not in the holding of some future office, but really consists in doing great deeds with little means and the accomplishment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-conwell/greatness-consists-not-in-the-holding-of-some-future-office-but-2/) [Russell Conwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-conwell/) > [Man's greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/man-s-greatness-consists-in-his-ability-to-do-and-the-proper/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [True greatness consists in being great in little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simmons/true-greatness-consists-in-being-great-in-little-things/) [Charles Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simmons/) > [Life is made up of little things. It is very rarely that an occasion is offered for doing a great deal at once. True…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simmons/life-is-made-up-of-little-things-it-is-very-rarely-that-an-occasion/) [Charles Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simmons/) > [The world's idea of greatness is to rule, but Christian greatness consists in serving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-world-s-idea-of-greatness-is-to-rule-but-christian-greatness/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [“Greatness consists not in the holding of some future office, but really consists in doing great deeds with little means and the accomplishment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-h-conwell/greatness-consists-not-in-the-holding-of-some-future-office-but/) [Russell H. Conwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-h-conwell/) > [A great man represents a great ganglion in the nerves of society, or to vary the figure, a strategic point in the campaign of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/a-great-man-represents-a-great-ganglion-in-the-nerves-of-society-or/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It comes down to finding something you love to do and then just trying to be great at it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/it-comes-down-to-finding-something-you-love-to-do-and-then-just/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [I love the process. It's like I've fallen in love with the process of trying to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/i-love-the-process-it-s-like-i-ve-fallen-in-love-with-the-process-of/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [It's a process of trying to be great. You play this game long enough, you're going to have these bumps in the road and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-green/it-s-a-process-of-trying-to-be-great-you-play-this-game-long-enough/) [A. J. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-green/) > [You don't become great by trying to be great. You become great by wanting to do something, and then doing it so hard that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/you-don-t-become-great-by-trying-to-be-great-you-become-great-by/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [I think we are here to challenge ourselves and make ourselves better people and not just sit around in the world simply floating through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominick-cruz/i-think-we-are-here-to-challenge-ourselves-and-make-ourselves-better/) [Dominick Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominick-cruz/) ## More by Albert Camus > [“The whole town rushed outside to celebrate this crowded minute when the time of suffering had ended and the time of forgetting had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-whole-town-rushed-outside-to-celebrate-this-crowded-minute-when/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Being is good, but getting rich is better… If the gods had only the riches of men's adoration, they would be as poor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/being-is-good-but-getting-rich-is-better-if-the-gods-had-only-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Having been, not only mutilated in our country, wounded in our very flesh, but also divested of our most beautiful images, for you gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/having-been-not-only-mutilated-in-our-country-wounded-in-our-very/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I've seen of enough of people who die for an idea. I don't believe in heroism; I know it's easy and I've learned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-ve-seen-of-enough-of-people-who-die-for-an-idea-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The best are led to make greater demands upon themselves. As for those who succumb, they did not deserve to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-best-are-led-to-make-greater-demands-upon-themselves-as-for-those/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Then he asked me if I wasn’t interested in a change of life. I said that people never change their lives, that in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/then-he-asked-me-if-i-wasn-t-interested-in-a-change-of-life-i-said/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Life is meaningless, but worth living, provided you recognize it's meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/life-is-meaningless-but-worth-living-provided-you-recognize-it-s/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Thinking of the future, establishing aims for oneself, having preferences-all this presupposes a belief in freedom, even if one occasionally ascertains that one doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/thinking-of-the-future-establishing-aims-for-oneself-having/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I explained to him, however, that my nature was such that my physical needs often got in the way of my feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-explained-to-him-however-that-my-nature-was-such-that-my-physical/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-only-way-to-deal-with-an-unfree-world-is-to-become-so-absolutely/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“We love people not because for good they did for us, but for good we did for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-love-people-not-because-for-good-they-did-for-us-but-for-good-we/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [You have so much inside you, and the noblest happiness of all. Don’t just wait for a man to come along. That’s the mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/you-have-so-much-inside-you-and-the-noblest-happiness-of-all-don-t/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The desire for possession is insatiable, to such a point that it can survive even love itself. To love, therefore, is to sterilize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-desire-for-possession-is-insatiable-to-such-a-point-that-it-can/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) [Explore all 1,600 Albert Camus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## More Great quotes > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [I'm very proud of some of the stories I've been given thanks to the team at 'Emmerdale,' they've been great over the years so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/i-m-very-proud-of-some-of-the-stories-i-ve-been-given-thanks-to-the/) [Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [No matter how many great things you say about Jacques Pepin, there's always more. Through his books and videos, he taught me the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenji-lopez-alt/no-matter-how-many-great-things-you-say-about-jacques-pepin-there-s/) [J. Kenji Lopez-Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenji-lopez-alt/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I always bump into people that Ive met. Not great friends, but if I bump into somebody Ive known and I wont recognise them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-franchitti/i-always-bump-into-people-that-ive-met-not-great-friends-but-if-i/) [Dario Franchitti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-franchitti/) > [Performance matters because games are built on great performance, but form factor and energy efficiency matter incredibly because they want to build something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/performance-matters-because-games-are-built-on-great-performance-but/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) > [I'm a lot of things, but none of them are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nelson/i-m-a-lot-of-things-but-none-of-them-are-great/) [Don Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nelson/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) [Browse all 24,273 Great quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Greatness consists in trying to be great. 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