--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mankind is made great or little by its…" description: "\"Mankind is made great or little by its own will.\" — Friedrich Schiller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/friedrich-schiller-832_great_mankind-is-made-great-or-little-by-its-o_3051886.png" --- # Mankind is made great or little by its own will. ![“Mankind is made great or little by its own will.” quote by Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/friedrich-schiller-832_great_mankind-is-made-great-or-little-by-its-o_3051886.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/friedrich-schiller-832_great_mankind-is-made-great-or-little-by-its-o_3051886.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/friedrich-schiller-832_great_mankind-is-made-great-or-little-by-its-o_3051886.png) > “Mankind is made great or little by its own will.” [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. Human greatness is determined by the strength of its collective will, not by external circumstances. **In simple terms:** Will shapes human greatness. Key Takeaway Strengthen collective resolve. Themes willpower human nature greatness Mood inspirational serious Type theoretical practical When to use this quote - social movements - team sports - national policy Key Concepts philosophy political theory Questions to Reflect On - How can societies nurture strong will? - What role does individual agency play? A Different Perspective Will can be undermined by individual selfishness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-little-1349635/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-great-1517020/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [The reproduction of mankind is a great marvel and mystery. 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I'm glad we found it actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-labash/be-as-subjective-as-you-want-it-s-a-great-little-racket-i-m-glad-we/) [Matt Labash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-labash/) > [“If you knew how great your little dreams are, you wouldn’t let them die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-you-knew-how-great-your-little-dreams-are-you-wouldn-t-let-them-die/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [All of us, the great and the little have need of each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/all-of-us-the-great-and-the-little-have-need-of-each-other/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) ## More by Friedrich Schiller > [An axe at home saves hiring a carpenter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/an-axe-at-home-saves-hiring-a-carpenter/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [It is well for a man when he has learned to endure what he cannot change, and to give up with dignity what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-well-for-a-man-when-he-has-learned-to-endure-what-he-cannot/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [I have enjoyed the happiness of the world; 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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