---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The temperament that produces a talent…"
description: "\"The temperament that produces a talent for little things is the opposite of that required for great ones.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_great-ones_the-temperament-that-produces-a-talent-f_3097082.png"
---

#  The temperament that produces a talent for little things…

![“The temperament that produces a talent for little things is the opposite of that required for great ones.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_great-ones_the-temperament-that-produces-a-talent-f_3097082.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_great-ones_the-temperament-that-produces-a-talent-f_3097082.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_great-ones_the-temperament-that-produces-a-talent-f_3097082.png)

> “The temperament that produces a talent for little things is the opposite of that required for great ones.”

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Great achievements require a different mindset than focusing on trivial details.

**In simple terms:** Greatness needs a broader outlook.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate vision beyond minutiae.

Themes

greatness mindset focus detail

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- creative projects
- leadership decisions
- personal growth

Key Concepts

philosophical self‑awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- Are you neglecting big-picture thinking?
- How can you balance detail with vision?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on small tasks can stall progress toward larger goals.

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[Great ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-ones/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Opposite Required](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-required-5350432/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Produces Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produces-talent-5350431/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-little-1564796/) [Temperament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperament/) [Temperament Produces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperament-produces-5350430/)

## Related quotes

> [You've got more talent in your little finger than you have in your big finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ve-got-more-talent-in-your-little-finger-than-you-have-in-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-d-rather-have-a-lot-of-talent-and-a-little-experience-than-a-lot-of/)

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> [Great talent has always a little madness mixed up with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/great-talent-has-always-a-little-madness-mixed-up-with-it/)

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> [We confess to little faults only to persuade ourselves we have no great ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-confess-to-little-faults-only-to-persuade-ourselves-we-have-no/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Everyone takes pleasure in returning small obligations, many people acknowledge moderate ones; but there are only a scarce few who do not pay great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/everyone-takes-pleasure-in-returning-small-obligations-many-people/)

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> [We only acknowledge small faults in order to make it appear that we are free from great ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-only-acknowledge-small-faults-in-order-to-make-it-appear-that-we/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Those who give too much attention to trifling things become generally incapable of great ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/those-who-give-too-much-attention-to-trifling-things-become-generally/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [On why I don't trust democracy without extremely powerful systems of accountability and recall What seems to be generosity is often only disguised ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/on-why-i-don-t-trust-democracy-without-extremely-powerful-systems-of/)

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> [As the great ones of this world are unable to bestow health of body or peace of mind, we always pay too high a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/as-the-great-ones-of-this-world-are-unable-to-bestow-health-of-body/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Absence abates a moderate passion and intensifies a great one - as the wind blows out a candle but fans fire into flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/absence-abates-a-moderate-passion-and-intensifies-a-great-one-as-the/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [They that apply themselves to trifling matters commonly become incapable of great ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/they-that-apply-themselves-to-trifling-matters-commonly-become/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [L'absence diminue les mediocres passions, et augmente les grandes,comme le vent eteint les bougies, et allume le feu. Absence diminishes commonplace passions, and increases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/l-absence-diminue-les-mediocres-passions-et-augmente-les-grandes/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The tranquility or agitation of our temper does not depend so much on the big things which happen to us in life, as on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-tranquility-or-agitation-of-our-temper-does-not-depend-so-much-on/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [There are people that I am in love with, totally in love with them. I would die for them. I love Michelangelo. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/there-are-people-that-i-am-in-love-with-totally-in-love-with-them-i/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [Alien's a great one. That's a scary movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-nelson/alien-s-a-great-one-that-s-a-scary-movie/)

[Judd Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-nelson/)

## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

> [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/)

[François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/)

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> [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

[Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## More Great ones quotes

> [Alien's a great one. That's a scary movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-nelson/alien-s-a-great-one-that-s-a-scary-movie/)

[Judd Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-nelson/)

> [There are people that I am in love with, totally in love with them. I would die for them. I love Michelangelo. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/there-are-people-that-i-am-in-love-with-totally-in-love-with-them-i/)

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> [The great ones are about winning and winning only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/the-great-ones-are-about-winning-and-winning-only/)

[Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/)

> [Ruth and I don't have a perfect marriage, but we have a great one. How can I say two things that seem so contradictory?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/ruth-and-i-don-t-have-a-perfect-marriage-but-we-have-a-great-one-how/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [This party spirit has so ill an effect on our morals, it has likewise a very great one upon our judgments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/this-party-spirit-has-so-ill-an-effect-on-our-morals-it-has-likewise/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [“Great is a great one whose great ones are great”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stein/great-is-a-great-one-whose-great-ones-are-great/)

[John Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stein/)

> [Certainly we're always rooting for our particular contingent moment to be a great one. Pain-free. But the more expansive vision has to include the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/certainly-we-re-always-rooting-for-our-particular-contingent-moment/)

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> [Directing requires great discipline, that ability to be in and out at the same time. The great ones I've worked with are like generals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/directing-requires-great-discipline-that-ability-to-be-in-and-out-at/)

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> [The truth is that Ron is my hero. He's always there for his friends - sometimes belligerently, but there nevertheless. He's also the comic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-grint/the-truth-is-that-ron-is-my-hero-he-s-always-there-for-his-friends/)

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> [As the few adepts in such things well know, universal morality is to be found in little everyday penny-events just as much as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/as-the-few-adepts-in-such-things-well-know-universal-morality-is-to/)

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> [An acknowledged love sanctifies every little freedom; and little freedoms beget great ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/an-acknowledged-love-sanctifies-every-little-freedom-and-little/)

[Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/)

> [Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/fishes-live-in-the-sea-as-men-do-a-land-the-great-ones-eat-up-the/)

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> [There are very few real teachers. Teaching is not a job; it is a vocation. To be a great one many qualities must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-von-hildebrand/there-are-very-few-real-teachers-teaching-is-not-a-job-it-is-a/)

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