--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reason why great men meet with so…" description: "\"The reason why great men meet with so little pity or attachment in adversity, would seem to be this: the friends of a great man were made by his fortun..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/charles-caleb-colton-270_adversity_the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-li_1542520.png" --- # The reason why great men meet with so little pity or… ![“The reason why great men meet with so little pity or attachment in adversity, would seem to be this: the friends of a great man were made by his fortune, his enemies by himself, and revenge is a much more punctual paymaster than gratitude.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/charles-caleb-colton-270_adversity_the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-li_1542520.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/charles-caleb-colton-270_adversity_the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-li_1542520.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/charles-caleb-colton-270_adversity_the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-li_1542520.png) > “The reason why great men meet with so little pity or attachment in adversity, would seem to be this: the friends of a great man were made by his fortune, his enemies by himself, and revenge is a much more punctual paymaster than gratitude.” [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great men attract friends because of wealth, but their enemies are self‑created, and vengeance acts faster than gratitude. **In simple terms:** Friends come from fortune; enemies from self; revenge is quicker than thanks. Key Takeaway Beware who you make enemies and value loyalty over wealth. Themes friendship envy revenge power human nature Mood cautious reflective critical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - politics - business negotiations - personal relationships Key Concepts social dynamics psychology morality Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on wealth for loyalty? - How can you foster genuine gratitude? A Different Perspective Gratitude may be delayed, but resentment can erupt instantly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Attachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attachment/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) ## Related quotes > [Revenge is a much more punctual paymaster than gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/revenge-is-a-much-more-punctual-paymaster-than-gratitude/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Revenge is a debt, in the paying of which the greatest knave is honest and sincere, and, so far as he is able, punctual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/revenge-is-a-debt-in-the-paying-of-which-the-greatest-knave-is-honest/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“You project a confident image through good body posture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-ann-peterson/you-project-a-confident-image-through-good-body-posture/) [Cindy Ann Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-ann-peterson/) > [“It’s not uncommon for me to be early to meetings by as much as a half a gallon. I guess the reason I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/it-s-not-uncommon-for-me-to-be-early-to-meetings-by-as-much-as-a-half/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“By taking good care of your posture now, you will enjoy and savor lifelong health benefits and beauty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-ann-peterson/by-taking-good-care-of-your-posture-now-you-will-enjoy-and-savor/) [Cindy Ann Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-ann-peterson/) > [“Contrary to what you might think, my mom is not an entirely punctual person, so I might have gotten some bad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/contrary-to-what-you-might-think-my-mom-is-not-an-entirely-punctual/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Strict punctuality is perhaps the cheapest virtue which can give force to an otherwise utterly insignificant character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frederick-boyes/strict-punctuality-is-perhaps-the-cheapest-virtue-which-can-give/) [John Frederick Boyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frederick-boyes/) > [The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-p-jones-2/the-trouble-with-being-punctual-is-that-nobody-s-there-to-appreciate/) [Franklin P Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-p-jones-2/) > [Keeping time to the biggest problem is that there will be no compliment to you / And if there were people, they take long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/keeping-time-to-the-biggest-problem-is-that-there-will-be-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There swift return Diurnal, merely to officiate light Round this opacous earth, this punctual spot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-swift-return-diurnal-merely-to-officiate-light-round-this/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Posture reflects your attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-ann-peterson/posture-reflects-your-attitude/) [Cindy Ann Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-ann-peterson/) > [“Our nonverbal behavior (including posture) gives away our inner personality and reflects our inner attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-ann-peterson/our-nonverbal-behavior-including-posture-gives-away-our-inner/) [Cindy Ann Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-ann-peterson/) > [The natives are very exact and punctual in the bounds of their lands, belonging to this or that prince or people, even to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-natives-are-very-exact-and-punctual-in-the-bounds-of-their-lands/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [Beans are highly nutritious and satisfying, they can also be delicious if and when properly prepared, and they posses over all vegetables the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-simon/beans-are-highly-nutritious-and-satisfying-they-can-also-be-delicious/) [Andre Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-simon/) > [You can never make someone punctual who is not, or quick who is slow, or lively who wants to plod on carefully. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-of-wied/you-can-never-make-someone-punctual-who-is-not-or-quick-who-is-slow/) [Elisabeth of Wied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-of-wied/) ## More by Charles Caleb Colton > [Villainy that is vigilant will be an overmatch for virtue, if she slumber at her post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/villainy-that-is-vigilant-will-be-an-overmatch-for-virtue-if-she/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-beautiful-woman-if-poor-should-use-double-circumspection-for-her/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/to-dare-to-live-alone-is-the-rarest-courage-since-there-are-many-who/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. 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You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. 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She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reason why great men meet with so little pity or attachment in adversity, would seem to be this: the friends of a great man were made by his fortune, his enemies by himself, and revenge is a much more punctual paymaster than gratitude.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Caleb Colton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-little-pity-or-attachment-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-little-pity-or-attachment-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/charles-caleb-colton-270_adversity_the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-li_1542520.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/charles-caleb-colton-270_adversity_the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-li_1542520.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/charles-caleb-colton-270_adversity_the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-li_1542520.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The reason why great men meet with so little pity or attachment in adversity, would seem to be this: the…” — Charles Caleb Colton", "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": "Charles Caleb Colton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The reason why great men meet...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-little-pity-or-attachment-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-reason-why-great-men-meet-with-so-little-pity-or-attachment-in/#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 } } ] } ```