--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is it, in your opinion, to be a…" description: "\"What is it, in your opinion, to be a great nobleman? It is to be master of several objects that men covet, and thus to be able to satisfy the wants and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/blaise-pascal-167_able_what-is-it-in-your-opinion-to-be-a-great_807626.jpg" --- # What is it, in your opinion, to be a great nobleman? It is… ![“What is it, in your opinion, to be a great nobleman? It is to be master of several objects that men covet, and thus to be able to satisfy the wants and the desires of many. It is these wants and these desires that attract them towards you, and that make them submit to you: were it not for these…” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/blaise-pascal-167_able_what-is-it-in-your-opinion-to-be-a-great_807626.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/blaise-pascal-167_able_what-is-it-in-your-opinion-to-be-a-great_807626.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/blaise-pascal-167_able_what-is-it-in-your-opinion-to-be-a-great_807626.jpg) > “What is it, in your opinion, to be a great nobleman? It is to be master of several objects that men covet, and thus to be able to satisfy the wants and the desires of many. It is these wants and these desires that attract them towards you, and that make them submit to you: were it not for these, they would not even look at you; but they hope, by these services... to obtain from you some part of the good which they desire, and of which they see that you have the disposal.” [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A great nobleman is defined by his ability to provide coveted resources, fulfilling others' desires and earning their allegiance. **In simple terms:** A nobleman gains respect by supplying what others want. Key Takeaway Cultivate influence by meeting others' needs. Themes power influence service status Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political leadership - business negotiations - philanthropy - network building Key Concepts Stoicism social hierarchy resource control Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance generosity with self‑respect? - What risks arise when power depends on others’ desires? A Different Perspective Reliance on material wealth can breed dependency and resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) [Great Nobleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-nobleman-1162678/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nobleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobleman-985648/) [Nobleman Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobleman-master-6162349/) [Noblemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noblemen/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Submit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submit/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Somebody has said, that a king may make a nobleman but he cannot make a gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/somebody-has-said-that-a-king-may-make-a-nobleman-but-he-cannot-make/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [NOBLEMAN, n. Nature's provision for wealthy American minds ambitious to incur social distinction and suffer high life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/nobleman-n-nature-s-provision-for-wealthy-american-minds-ambitious-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The office of the prince and that of the writer are defined and assigned as follows: the nobleman gives rank to the written work,the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-office-of-the-prince-and-that-of-the-writer-are-defined-and/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The mind makes the nobleman, and uplifts the lowly to high degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-mind-makes-the-nobleman-and-uplifts-the-lowly-to-high-degree/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [There is often no material difference between the enjoyment of the highest ranks and those of the rudest stages of society. If the life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-archibald-alison-2nd-baronet/there-is-often-no-material-difference-between-the-enjoyment-of-the/) [Sir Archibald Alison, 2nd Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-archibald-alison-2nd-baronet/) > [I wanted to be a nobleman; I bought a name and a title... Oh, nothing is impossible with five million a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-sue/i-wanted-to-be-a-nobleman-i-bought-a-name-and-a-title-oh-nothing-is/) [Eugene Sue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-sue/) > [I'm an amalgamation of what I've needed to be. Part scholar, part rebel, part nobleman, part Mistborn, and part soldier. Sometimes I don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-m-an-amalgamation-of-what-i-ve-needed-to-be-part-scholar-part-rebel/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [My son, be worthy of your noble name, worthily borne by your ancestors for over five hundred years. 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Saint-Loup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/compared-with-that-of-a-great-artist-the-friendliness-of-a-great/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“A man may be a Jew, a nobleman, a tramp, or a chimneysweep,” Ossip said softly, “but as long as he is proud of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-raphel-high/a-man-may-be-a-jew-a-nobleman-a-tramp-or-a-chimneysweep-ossip-said/) [Monique Raphel High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-raphel-high/) > [“The statesman received us with that old-fashioned courtesy for which he is remarkable, and seated us on the two luxuriant lounges on either side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/the-statesman-received-us-with-that-old-fashioned-courtesy-for-which/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I was a little bit of a tech lord. Not a lord. More of a duke or a nobleman. I was into that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleditch/i-was-a-little-bit-of-a-tech-lord-not-a-lord-more-of-a-duke-or-a/) [Thomas Middleditch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleditch/) > [“Yet Conscience is a nobleman, the best in us, and a friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-llewellyn/yet-conscience-is-a-nobleman-the-best-in-us-and-a-friend/) [Richard Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-llewellyn/) ## More by Blaise Pascal > [“Do they think that they have given us great pleasure by telling us that they hold our soul to be no more than wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-they-think-that-they-have-given-us-great-pleasure-by-telling-us/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The method of not erring is sought by all the world. 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Without Jesus Christ it is dreadful, it is alarming, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/reflect-on-death-as-in-jesus-christ-not-as-without-jesus-christ/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves as united to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/happiness-can-be-found-neither-in-ourselves-nor-in-external-things/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Rivers are highways that move on and bear us whither we wish to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/rivers-are-highways-that-move-on-and-bear-us-whither-we-wish-to-go/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [We desire truth, and find within ourselves only uncertainty. 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