--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A great thing is a great book; but a…" description: "\"A great thing is a great book; but a greater thing than all is the talk of a great man.\" — Benjamin Disraeli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/benjamin-disraeli-390_book_a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-grea_232198.png" --- # A great thing is a great book; but a greater thing than… ![“A great thing is a great book; but a greater thing than all is the talk of a great man.” quote by Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/benjamin-disraeli-390_book_a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-grea_232198.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/benjamin-disraeli-390_book_a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-grea_232198.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/benjamin-disraeli-390_book_a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-grea_232198.png) > “A great thing is a great book; but a greater thing than all is the talk of a great man.” [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great books inspire, but the ideas of great people inspire even more. **In simple terms:** Talks of great men surpass books. Key Takeaway Seek wisdom from influential thinkers. Themes knowledge inspiration leadership Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - leadership development - public speaking Key Concepts philosophy literature Questions to Reflect On - What makes a great man's talk more powerful than a book? - How to balance book learning with mentorship? A Different Perspective Ideas may be idealized and not practical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Great book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-book/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Great thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-thing/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Greater Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-thing-947197/) [Greater things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-things/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Talk Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-great-1099407/) [Thing Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-great-392635/) ## Related quotes > [“It was a great thing,—a very great thing;—he had no hesitation in saying that it was one of the greatest things out.  He didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/it-was-a-great-thing-a-very-great-thing-he-had-no-hesitation-in/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [It is a far greater thing that I do now, than I've ever done before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-is-a-far-greater-thing-that-i-do-now-than-i-ve-ever-done-before/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > ["Ego," sayest thou, and art proud of that word. But the greater thing - in which thou art unwilling to believe - is thy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/ego-sayest-thou-and-art-proud-of-that-word-but-the-greater-thing-in/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [What greater thing can you do - besides for God - than good for other people? That goes for you mean people, too -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ysabella-brave/what-greater-thing-can-you-do-besides-for-god-than-good-for-other/) [Ysabella Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ysabella-brave/) > [There is no greater thing two friends can do for each other than simply to be each other's friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-david-baird-1st-baronet/there-is-no-greater-thing-two-friends-can-do-for-each-other-than/) [Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-david-baird-1st-baronet/) > [When we talk about God, I think what most of us mean is some greater thing, some higher power that can help us access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lansens/when-we-talk-about-god-i-think-what-most-of-us-mean-is-some-greater/) [Lori Lansens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lansens/) > [There's no such thing as too much. If there's too much, then that's a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/there-s-no-such-thing-as-too-much-if-there-s-too-much-then-that-s-a/) [Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/) > [A great thing can only be done by a great person; and they do it without effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/a-great-thing-can-only-be-done-by-a-great-person-and-they-do-it/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [If you don't have a camera, the best thing you can do is describe how great it looked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/if-you-don-t-have-a-camera-the-best-thing-you-can-do-is-describe-how/) [Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/) > [I think anyone who creates anything, whether it's yourself as a writer, anyone - when you finish something, it's gone from being just your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/i-think-anyone-who-creates-anything-whether-it-s-yourself-as-a-writer/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) > [For no. 1, it's great writing, super writing. The second thing is that it's great chemistry with all the actors. We just all got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reba-mcentire/for-no-1-it-s-great-writing-super-writing-the-second-thing-is-that-it/) [Reba McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reba-mcentire/) > [Was there ever such thing as great Shakespeare? Only one must not say so! But what think you — what — was there not sad stuff?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-iii/was-there-ever-such-thing-as-great-shakespeare-only-one-must-not-say/) [George III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-iii/) > [There is no such thing as great work without longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/there-is-no-such-thing-as-great-work-without-longevity/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [You become great by going small thing in a great way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-become-great-by-going-small-thing-in-a-great-way/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/) [Randy Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-anderson/) ## More by Benjamin Disraeli > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-am-prepared-for-the-worst-but-hope-for-the-best/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/religion-should-be-the-rule-of-life-not-a-casual-incident-in-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/frank-and-explicit-that-is-the-right-line-to-take-when-you-wish-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I was told that the privileged and the people formed two nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-was-told-that-the-privileged-and-the-people-formed-two-nations/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-praise-of-a-fool-is-incense-to-the-wisest-of-us/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) [Explore all 603 Benjamin Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A great thing is a great book; but a greater thing than all is the talk of a great man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Disraeli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-greater-thing-than-all-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-greater-thing-than-all-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/benjamin-disraeli-390_book_a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-grea_232198.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/benjamin-disraeli-390_book_a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-grea_232198.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/benjamin-disraeli-390_book_a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-grea_232198.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A great thing is a great book; but a greater thing than all is the talk of a great man.” — Benjamin Disraeli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Disraeli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A great thing is a great...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-greater-thing-than-all-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/a-great-thing-is-a-great-book-but-a-greater-thing-than-all-is-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```