--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The highest that a man can attain is to…" description: "\"The highest that a man can attain is to be able to do.\" — G. I. Gurdjieff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_able_the-highest-that-a-man-can-attain-is-to_2338110.jpg" --- # The highest that a man can attain is to be able to do. ![“The highest that a man can attain is to be able to do.” quote by G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_able_the-highest-that-a-man-can-attain-is-to_2338110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_able_the-highest-that-a-man-can-attain-is-to_2338110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_able_the-highest-that-a-man-can-attain-is-to_2338110.jpg) > “The highest that a man can attain is to be able to do.” [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The pinnacle of humanity is the capacity to act purposefully **In simple terms:** Ability to act is highest achievement Key Takeaway Focus on purposeful action Themes human potential action achievement Mood motivational inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - career - personal development - community service Key Concepts self‑actualization volition Questions to Reflect On - What actions reflect your highest values? - How can you ensure actions are purposeful? A Different Perspective Action without purpose can be hollow ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [It is not woman who claims the highest in man. It is a man's own religious soul that drives him on beyond women, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/it-is-not-woman-who-claims-the-highest-in-man-it-is-a-man-s-own/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [Glory to Man in the highest! For Man is the master of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/glory-to-man-in-the-highest-for-man-is-the-master-of-things/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [For a man to attain to an eminent degree in learning costs him time, watching, hunger, nakedness, dizziness in the head, weakness in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/for-a-man-to-attain-to-an-eminent-degree-in-learning-costs-him-time/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [No man can attain to the knowledge of God but by humility. The way to mount high is to descend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-of-assisi/no-man-can-attain-to-the-knowledge-of-god-but-by-humility-the-way-to/) Giles of Assisi > [It belongs to the imperfection of everything human that man can only attain his desire by passing through its opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/it-belongs-to-the-imperfection-of-everything-human-that-man-can-only/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [I would venture to affirm that a man cannot attain excellence if he satisfy the ignorant and not those of his own craft, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/i-would-venture-to-affirm-that-a-man-cannot-attain-excellence-if-he/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Wisdom is the highest position a man can attain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/wisdom-is-the-highest-position-a-man-can-attain/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It has never been given to a man to attain at once his happiness and his salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-peguy/it-has-never-been-given-to-a-man-to-attain-at-once-his-happiness-and/) [Charles Peguy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-peguy/) > [A happy life is impos­si­ble; the best that a man can attain is a heroic life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/a-happy-life-is-impos-si-ble-the-best-that-a-man-can-attain-is-a/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [In order for man to succeed in life, God provided him with two means, education and physical activity. Not separately, one for the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/in-order-for-man-to-succeed-in-life-god-provided-him-with-two-means/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [There is some help for all the defects of fortune; for, if a man cannot attain to the length of his wishes, he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/there-is-some-help-for-all-the-defects-of-fortune-for-if-a-man-cannot/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [“He knew full well, from his Spencer, that man can never attain ultimate knowledge of anything, and that the mystery of beauty was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/he-knew-full-well-from-his-spencer-that-man-can-never-attain-ultimate/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [By persistent labor man may attain to all excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/by-persistent-labor-man-may-attain-to-all-excellence/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) > [There must be a way for man to attain all possible pleasures, all the powers and knowledge that nature can grant him, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/there-must-be-a-way-for-man-to-attain-all-possible-pleasures-all-the/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/to-vilify-a-great-man-is-the-readiest-way-in-which-a-little-man-can/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) ## More by G. I. Gurdjieff > [Nothing can be attained without suffering but at the same time one must begin by sacrificing suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/nothing-can-be-attained-without-suffering-but-at-the-same-time-one/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [If you meditate and the Devil comes, make the Devil meditate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/if-you-meditate-and-the-devil-comes-make-the-devil-meditate/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [It is only by grounding our awareness in the living sensation of our bodies that the 'I Am,' our real presence, can awaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/it-is-only-by-grounding-our-awareness-in-the-living-sensation-of-our/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Those who have not sown anything during their responsible life will have nothing to reap in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/those-who-have-not-sown-anything-during-their-responsible-life-will/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Try to understand what I am saying: everything is dependent on everything else, everything is connected, nothing is separate. Therefore everything is going in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/try-to-understand-what-i-am-saying-everything-is-dependent-on/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [From my point of view, he can be called a remarkable man who stands out from those around him by the resourcefulness of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/from-my-point-of-view-he-can-be-called-a-remarkable-man-who-stands/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [To know all, it is necessary to know very little; but to know that very little, one must first know pretty much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/to-know-all-it-is-necessary-to-know-very-little-but-to-know-that-very/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Hope of consciousness is strength Hope of feelings is slavery Hope of body is disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/hope-of-consciousness-is-strength-hope-of-feelings-is-slavery-hope-of/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [The degree of consciousness corresponds to the degree of density or the speed of vibrations. The denser the matter, the less conscious it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/the-degree-of-consciousness-corresponds-to-the-degree-of-density-or/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Knowledge by itself does not give understanding. Nor is understanding increased by an increase of knowledge alone. Understanding depends upon the relation of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/knowledge-by-itself-does-not-give-understanding-nor-is-understanding/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [A miracle is not the breaking of physical laws, but rather represents laws which are incomprehensible to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/a-miracle-is-not-the-breaking-of-physical-laws-but-rather-represents/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Sincerity is the key which will open the door through which you will see your separate parts, and you will see something quite new.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/sincerity-is-the-key-which-will-open-the-door-through-which-you-will/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [If a man could understand all the horror of the lives of ordinary people who are turning around in a circle of insignificant interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/if-a-man-could-understand-all-the-horror-of-the-lives-of-ordinary/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [That which is easy is bad for your inner life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/that-which-is-easy-is-bad-for-your-inner-life/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [My way is to develop the hidden potentialities of man; a way that is against Nature and against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/my-way-is-to-develop-the-hidden-potentialities-of-man-a-way-that-is/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) [Explore all 59 G. I. Gurdjieff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The highest that a man can attain is to be able to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "G. I. 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