--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great saints were always great…" description: "\"The great saints were always great innovators... They had to be very strong people... principled people. And, apart from their principles, with great t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/colm-wilkinson-15708_great_the-great-saints-were-always-great-innov_698106.jpg" --- # The great saints were always great innovators... They had… ![“The great saints were always great innovators... They had to be very strong people... principled people. And, apart from their principles, with great tenacity they had to have great reserves of patience.” quote by Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/colm-wilkinson-15708_great_the-great-saints-were-always-great-innov_698106.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/colm-wilkinson-15708_great_the-great-saints-were-always-great-innov_698106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/colm-wilkinson-15708_great_the-great-saints-were-always-great-innov_698106.jpg) > “The great saints were always great innovators... They had to be very strong people... principled people. And, apart from their principles, with great tenacity they had to have great reserves of patience.” [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great saints combined innovation, strength, principle, and patience to achieve lasting impact. **In simple terms:** Saints needed innovation, strength, principle, patience. Key Takeaway Cultivate principle, patience, and innovative spirit. Themes innovation strength principle patience leadership Mood inspired determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - Leadership roles - social activism - personal development - community building Key Concepts Ethics resilience visionary thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance innovation with patience? - What principles guide your perseverance? A Different Perspective Innovation alone without patience may falter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Innovators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-innovators-2302024/) [Great Saints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-saints-453253/) [Innovators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovators/) [Innovators Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovators-strong-5532317/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Saints Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saints-great-653533/) [Strong people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-people/) [Tenacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenacity/) ## Related quotes > [Great saints have often been made out of great sinners, but not one was ever made out of a wimp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/great-saints-have-often-been-made-out-of-great-sinners-but-not-one/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Americans understand that one of our great national strengths is innovation. Great innovators - Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hormats/americans-understand-that-one-of-our-great-national-strengths-is/) [Robert Hormats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hormats/) > [We're taught by repetition but great innovators need to be great at doing the different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/we-re-taught-by-repetition-but-great-innovators-need-to-be-great-at/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [There was a period which I refer to as the 'Golden Age of Jazz,' which sort of encompasses the middle Thirties through the Sixties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/there-was-a-period-which-i-refer-to-as-the-golden-age-of-jazz-which/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [The characteristic of great innovators and great companies is they see a space that others do not. They don't just listen to what people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/the-characteristic-of-great-innovators-and-great-companies-is-they/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [I want to be remembered as one of the great innovators among social justice advocates of the 21st Century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/i-want-to-be-remembered-as-one-of-the-great-innovators-among-social/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Great innovators and original thinkers and artists attract the wrath of mediocrities as lightning rods draw the flashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-reik/great-innovators-and-original-thinkers-and-artists-attract-the-wrath/) [Theodor Reik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-reik/) > [If we look to the saints, this great luminous wake with which God has passed through history, we truly see that here is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-we-look-to-the-saints-this-great-luminous-wake-with-which-god-has/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Saints are the great teachers of the loving-kindness and fascination with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/saints-are-the-great-teachers-of-the-loving-kindness-and-fascination/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [Great saints are never wimps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/great-saints-are-never-wimps/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Give me great sinners to make great saints! They are glorious raw material for Grace to work upon and when you do get them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/give-me-great-sinners-to-make-great-saints-they-are-glorious-raw/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [When two great saints meet, it's a humbling experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/when-two-great-saints-meet-it-s-a-humbling-experience/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [We are all called to be great saints, don't miss the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-angelica/we-are-all-called-to-be-great-saints-don-t-miss-the-opportunity/) [Mother Angelica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-angelica/) > [People who are born even-tempered, placid and untroubled - secure from violent passions or temptations to evil - those who have never needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/people-who-are-born-even-tempered-placid-and-untroubled-secure-from/) [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) > [Through all ages, great saints have remained as living proof that this non-temporary, permanent state of God consciousness can be revived in all living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/through-all-ages-great-saints-have-remained-as-living-proof-that-this/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) ## More by Colm Wilkinson > [My mom was sort of involved in amateur dramatics like Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, and played the violin. My dad played banjo and piano…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/my-mom-was-sort-of-involved-in-amateur-dramatics-like-gilbert-and/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > ['Les Miserables', the book, 'Les Miserables', the musical - it's about giving; it's about goodness. It's about compassion and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/les-miserables-the-book-les-miserables-the-musical-it-s-about-giving/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [As I tell my children, the first thing is always health. Get sleep, don't party, don't do drugs or drink. If your body is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/as-i-tell-my-children-the-first-thing-is-always-health-get-sleep-don/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [Acting means nothing unless it's truth. And honesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/acting-means-nothing-unless-it-s-truth-and-honesty/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [I grew up in a very musical family, but music was not encouraged as a career. It was a hobby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/i-grew-up-in-a-very-musical-family-but-music-was-not-encouraged-as-a/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [For myself, personally, I am never really aware of timing or anything because I am passionate about what I do, so I have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/for-myself-personally-i-am-never-really-aware-of-timing-or-anything/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [You do get a lot of people complaining if you don't do songs they have come to expect. I have to be careful about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/you-do-get-a-lot-of-people-complaining-if-you-don-t-do-songs-they/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [My favorites are songs that I get an emotional charge from, whatever genre they're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/my-favorites-are-songs-that-i-get-an-emotional-charge-from-whatever/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [When I work with a character like Valjean on stage, I get totally absorbed in that man. I become that man. But there's always,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/when-i-work-with-a-character-like-valjean-on-stage-i-get-totally/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [You have to try and make the role your own and not copy anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/you-have-to-try-and-make-the-role-your-own-and-not-copy-anyone-else/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [You see some people on stage today, and they have these huge ear monitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/you-see-some-people-on-stage-today-and-they-have-these-huge-ear/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [There's nothing like being in front of a live audience and getting that vibe from them, and I love people to join in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/there-s-nothing-like-being-in-front-of-a-live-audience-and-getting/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [I have made a career out of my hobby, which is an incredibly fortunate position to be in, but you have to have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/i-have-made-a-career-out-of-my-hobby-which-is-an-incredibly-fortunate/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [Once you sign on the dotted line, in terms of a contract with a musical, it's a huge commitment. When you're younger, that's fine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/once-you-sign-on-the-dotted-line-in-terms-of-a-contract-with-a/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [I've always been told I sound black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/i-ve-always-been-told-i-sound-black/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) [Explore all 42 Colm Wilkinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) ## 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. 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