--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every great mind seeks to labor for…" description: "\"Every great mind seeks to labor for eternity. All men are captivated by immediate advantages; great minds alone are excited by the prospect of distant ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/friedrich-schiller-832_advantage_every-great-mind-seeks-to-labor-for-eter_2686345.png" --- # Every great mind seeks to labor for eternity. All men are… ![“Every great mind seeks to labor for eternity. All men are captivated by immediate advantages; great minds alone are excited by the prospect of distant good.” quote by Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/friedrich-schiller-832_advantage_every-great-mind-seeks-to-labor-for-eter_2686345.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/friedrich-schiller-832_advantage_every-great-mind-seeks-to-labor-for-eter_2686345.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/friedrich-schiller-832_advantage_every-great-mind-seeks-to-labor-for-eter_2686345.png) > “Every great mind seeks to labor for eternity. All men are captivated by immediate advantages; great minds alone are excited by the prospect of distant good.” [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great thinkers prioritize long‑term impact over short‑term gains, valuing lasting contributions. **In simple terms:** Great minds favor lasting good over quick benefits. Key Takeaway Focus on enduring goals. Themes philosophy legacy motivation Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - policy making - education reform - philanthropy Key Concepts Long‑term vision ethical ambition Questions to Reflect On - How can you align daily actions with future legacy? - What temptations distract from long‑term goals? A Different Perspective Immediate rewards can be compelling, diverting focus from lasting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Great minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-minds/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Through the media of films, books, music and the behavior of elders, young minds are excited and aroused into indulgences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sathya-sai-baba/through-the-media-of-films-books-music-and-the-behavior-of-elders/) [Sri Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sathya-sai-baba/) > [The power of duly appreciating little things belongs to a great mind...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/the-power-of-duly-appreciating-little-things-belongs-to-a-great-mind/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [The little mind who loves itself, will wr'te and think with the vulgar; but the great mind will be bravely eccentric, and scorn the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-little-mind-who-loves-itself-will-wr-te-and-think-with-the-vulgar/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Anger represents a certain power, when a great mind, prevented from executing its own generous desires, is moved by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-aretino/anger-represents-a-certain-power-when-a-great-mind-prevented-from/) [Pietro Aretino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-aretino/) > [One of the marks of a truly great mind, I had discovered, is the ability to feign stupidity on demand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/one-of-the-marks-of-a-truly-great-mind-i-had-discovered-is-the/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [This is a great mind at work examining itself. 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I have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/i-have-enjoyed-the-happiness-of-the-world-i-have-loved/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [It is easy to give advice from a port of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-easy-to-give-advice-from-a-port-of-safety/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Why should I deem myself to be a chisel, when I could be the artist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/why-should-i-deem-myself-to-be-a-chisel-when-i-could-be-the-artist/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [It is through beauty that we arrive at freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-through-beauty-that-we-arrive-at-freedom/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [The first great law is to obey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/the-first-great-law-is-to-obey/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [To gain a crown by fighting is great, to reject it divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/to-gain-a-crown-by-fighting-is-great-to-reject-it-divine/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Even the weak become strong when they are united.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/even-the-weak-become-strong-when-they-are-united/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Man only plays when in the full meaning of the word he is a man, and he is only completely a man when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/man-only-plays-when-in-the-full-meaning-of-the-word-he-is-a-man-and/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Ah, to that far distant strand Bridge there was not to convey, Not a bark was near at hand, Yet true love soon found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/ah-to-that-far-distant-strand-bridge-there-was-not-to-convey-not-a/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [A gloomy guest fits not a wedding feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/a-gloomy-guest-fits-not-a-wedding-feast/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [If you have never seen beauty in a moment of suffering, you have never seen beauty at all. 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