--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true grandeur of humanity is in moral…" description: "\"The true grandeur of humanity is in moral elevation, sustained, enlightened and decorated by the intellect of man\" — Charles Sumner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/charles-sumner-19710_character_the-true-grandeur-of-humanity-is-in-mora_1522010.png" --- # The true grandeur of humanity is in moral elevation… ![“The true grandeur of humanity is in moral elevation, sustained, enlightened and decorated by the intellect of man” quote by Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/charles-sumner-19710_character_the-true-grandeur-of-humanity-is-in-mora_1522010.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/charles-sumner-19710_character_the-true-grandeur-of-humanity-is-in-mora_1522010.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/charles-sumner-19710_character_the-true-grandeur-of-humanity-is-in-mora_1522010.png) > “The true grandeur of humanity is in moral elevation, sustained, enlightened and decorated by the intellect of man” [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human greatness lies in moral and intellectual elevation, sustained over time. **In simple terms:** Greatness is moral and intellectual growth. Key Takeaway Cultivate moral and intellectual development. Themes morality intellect humanity Mood hopeful uplifting Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - leadership - social reform Key Concepts enlightenment virtue Questions to Reflect On - How can you promote moral growth in your community? - What intellectual pursuits inspire you? A Different Perspective Moral elevation may be hindered by societal constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Elevation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elevation/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Grandeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandeur/) [Grandeur Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandeur-humanity-5628443/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-moral-4141341/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Elevation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-elevation-2474975/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Sustained Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sustained-enlightened-5628444/) [True Grandeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-grandeur-2133852/) ## Related quotes > [Vision without power does bring moral elevation but cannot give a lasting culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-iqbal/vision-without-power-does-bring-moral-elevation-but-cannot-give-a/) [Muhammad Iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-iqbal/) > [“Moral elevation" describes the feeling of being uplifted by an act of uncommon goodness. Elevation brings out what Abraham Lincoln called "the better angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/moral-elevation-describes-the-feeling-of-being-uplifted-by-an-act-of/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [All moral elevation consists first and foremost of being weaned from the momentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/all-moral-elevation-consists-first-and-foremost-of-being-weaned-from/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Humanity's moral conscience progresses, slowly yet surely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheikh-anta-diop/humanity-s-moral-conscience-progresses-slowly-yet-surely/) [Cheikh Anta Diop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheikh-anta-diop/) > [It seems to me that we become more dear one to the other, in together admiring works of art, which speak to the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-stael/it-seems-to-me-that-we-become-more-dear-one-to-the-other-in-together/) [Madame de Stael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-stael/) > [There can be a true grandeur in any degree of submissiveness, because it springs from loyalty to the laws and to an oath, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/there-can-be-a-true-grandeur-in-any-degree-of-submissiveness-because/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [I never came across anyone in whom the moral sense was dominant who was not heartless, cruel, vindictive, log-stupid, and entirely lacking in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-never-came-across-anyone-in-whom-the-moral-sense-was-dominant-who/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The discipline of suffering, of great suffering - do you not know that it is this discipline alone that has produced all the elevations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-discipline-of-suffering-of-great-suffering-do-you-not-know-that/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Everyone cannot elevate or even revelate at the same time and/or season; an appointment to elevation can result from being specially chosen...like fruit that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-bond/everyone-cannot-elevate-or-even-revelate-at-the-same-time-and-or/) [Tracey Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-bond/) > [I am deeply interested in the progress and elevation of journalism, having spent my life in that profession, regarding it as a noble profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/i-am-deeply-interested-in-the-progress-and-elevation-of-journalism/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [I think space, architectural space, is my thing. It's not about facade, elevation, making image, making money. My passion is creating space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-zumthor/i-think-space-architectural-space-is-my-thing-it-s-not-about-facade/) [Peter Zumthor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-zumthor/) > [Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/literature-is-well-enough-as-a-time-passer-and-for-the-improvement/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Fasting is not bodily hunger but bodily elevation and purity. It is not a body that hungers and longs for food, but a body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-shenouda-iii-of-alexandria/fasting-is-not-bodily-hunger-but-bodily-elevation-and-purity-it-is/) [Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-shenouda-iii-of-alexandria/) > [We must begin by acknowledging that there is a complete absence of two things in Indian Society. One of these is equality. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/we-must-begin-by-acknowledging-that-there-is-a-complete-absence-of/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) ## More by Charles Sumner > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [No true and permanent fame can be founded, except in labors which promote the happiness of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/no-true-and-permanent-fame-can-be-founded-except-in-labors-which/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [The highest greatness, surviving time and stone, is that which proceeds from the soul of man. Monarchs and cabinets, generals and admirals, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/the-highest-greatness-surviving-time-and-stone-is-that-which-proceeds/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [Give me the centralism of liberty; give me the imperialism of equal rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/give-me-the-centralism-of-liberty-give-me-the-imperialism-of-equal/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [Whatever may be the temporary applause of men, or the expressions of public opinion, it may be asserted without fear of contradiction, that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/whatever-may-be-the-temporary-applause-of-men-or-the-expressions-of/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [Without knowledge there can be no sure progress. Vice and barbarism are the inseparable companions of ignorance. 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It is by compromise that human rights have been abandoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/from-the-beginning-of-our-history-the-country-has-been-afflicted-with/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [I have never known a man who was sensual in his youth, who was high-minded when old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/i-have-never-known-a-man-who-was-sensual-in-his-youth-who-was-high/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [The true greatness of nations is in those qualities which constitute the greatness of the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/the-true-greatness-of-nations-is-in-those-qualities-which-constitute/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [The slave power dares anything, and it can be conquered only by the united masses of the people. 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An age of Humanity has come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/the-age-of-chivalry-is-gone-an-age-of-humanity-has-come/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [The press, watchful with more than the hundred eyes of Argus, strong with more than the hundred arms of Briareus, not only guards all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/the-press-watchful-with-more-than-the-hundred-eyes-of-argus-strong/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) [Explore all 32 Charles Sumner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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