--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The character of greatness must be…" description: "\"The character of greatness must be measured in two ways, else the measurement is flawed. First, and by far most popular of all, is by one's ability to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/guy-finley-2165_ability_the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measu_1119936.jpg" --- # The character of greatness must be measured in two ways… ![“The character of greatness must be measured in two ways, else the measurement is flawed. First, and by far most popular of all, is by one's ability to succeed in times of trial where others may fail. But of no less importance, and perhaps foundational to any form of greatness, is one's willingness…” quote by Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/guy-finley-2165_ability_the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measu_1119936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/guy-finley-2165_ability_the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measu_1119936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/guy-finley-2165_ability_the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measu_1119936.jpg) > “The character of greatness must be measured in two ways, else the measurement is flawed. First, and by far most popular of all, is by one's ability to succeed in times of trial where others may fail. But of no less importance, and perhaps foundational to any form of greatness, is one's willingness to start over in spite of failure, when success seems farthest away.” [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness is judged by success in crises and the courage to restart after failure; both are essential measures. **In simple terms:** Greatness = success in trials + willingness to restart after failure. Key Takeaway Balance resilience with ambition. Themes success resilience greatness Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - entrepreneurship - personal recovery - team management Key Concepts courage adversity growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you define greatness in your life? - What steps help you restart after setbacks? A Different Perspective Success alone doesn't capture true greatness without recovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability to succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-to-succeed/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Starting over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-over/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) ## Related quotes > [To display the greatest powers, unless they are applied to great purposes, makes nothing for the character of greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/to-display-the-greatest-powers-unless-they-are-applied-to-great/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Greatness is the willingness to choose in the midst of intensity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/greatness-is-the-willingness-to-choose-in-the-midst-of-intensity/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [“Only those willing to truly risk everything will gain everything. No person ever rose to greatness without the willingness to lose it all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/only-those-willing-to-truly-risk-everything-will-gain-everything-no/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [Your greatness is measured by your kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-h-boetcker/your-greatness-is-measured-by-your-kindness/) [William J. H. Boetcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-h-boetcker/) > [A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-nation-s-greatness-is-measured-by-how-it-treats-its-weakest-members/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-height/greatness-is-not-measured-by-what-a-man-or-woman-accomplishes-but-by/) [Dorothy Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-height/) > [“Greatness is measured not in your achievements but in the things you have overcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-michaels/greatness-is-measured-not-in-your-achievements-but-in-the-things-you/) Kevin Michaels > [True greatness is measured by how much freedom you give to others, not by how much you can coerce others to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/true-greatness-is-measured-by-how-much-freedom-you-give-to-others-not/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [A nation's greatness is measured not just by its gross national product or military power, but by the strength of its devotion to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-nation-s-greatness-is-measured-not-just-by-its-gross-national/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [True greatness is not measured by the headlines a person commands or the wealth he or she accumulates. The inner character of a person-the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/true-greatness-is-not-measured-by-the-headlines-a-person-commands-or/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“Greatness is measured by those who like to think. Success is measured by those who like to receive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-george-smithers/greatness-is-measured-by-those-who-like-to-think-success-is-measured/) Christopher George Smithers > [America's greatness rests on far more than the power of our arms. Our greatness is also measured by our goodness, it's in the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/america-s-greatness-rests-on-far-more-than-the-power-of-our-arms-our/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [“True greatness is measured by whether or not a man fulfils his purpose on earth. True greatness is not about money or fame. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-ogedegbe/true-greatness-is-measured-by-whether-or-not-a-man-fulfils-his/) [CLEMENT OGEDEGBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-ogedegbe/) > [“Greatness is measured by how much you believe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-stenzel/greatness-is-measured-by-how-much-you-believe/) Myron Stenzel > [“Greatness must be measured by the transfer of success to future generations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mlungisi-simelane/greatness-must-be-measured-by-the-transfer-of-success-to-future/) [Mlungisi Simelane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mlungisi-simelane/) ## More by Guy Finley > [No truly conscious human being sabotages himself - it's impossible, because it's contrary to Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-truly-conscious-human-being-sabotages-himself-it-s-impossible/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [A crisis is a close encounter of the third kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/a-crisis-is-a-close-encounter-of-the-third-kind/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Knowledge without Spirit is like finding yourself on a cold night with all the wood in the world and no flame to ignite it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/knowledge-without-spirit-is-like-finding-yourself-on-a-cold-night/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Eventually, we reach the point where we start to realize that we are not going to find peace, contentment, happiness, strength, fearlessness - all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/eventually-we-reach-the-point-where-we-start-to-realize-that-we-are/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Nothing glows brighter than the heart awakened to the unseen light of love that lives within it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/nothing-glows-brighter-than-the-heart-awakened-to-the-unseen-light-of/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [We are not here on earth to change our destiny, but to fulfill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/we-are-not-here-on-earth-to-change-our-destiny-but-to-fulfill-it/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Staying present, living in Presence is the best gift anyone can give to those they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/staying-present-living-in-presence-is-the-best-gift-anyone-can-give/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [What you don't want to know about yourself wants to be known, which is why it keeps 'showing up' at your door unannounced!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/what-you-don-t-want-to-know-about-yourself-wants-to-be-known-which-is/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Statistics vary, but in less than seven years there won't be a single cell left in any of our bodies that's the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/statistics-vary-but-in-less-than-seven-years-there-won-t-be-a-single/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Never run from what you don't understand, as it will be waiting for you every time you come to a stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/never-run-from-what-you-don-t-understand-as-it-will-be-waiting-for/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Ours is the task of discovering that our true nature has nothing to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/ours-is-the-task-of-discovering-that-our-true-nature-has-nothing-to/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [No one rises above who he or she has been without first having fallen down. The best time - in fact, the only time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-one-rises-above-who-he-or-she-has-been-without-first-having-fallen/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [You cannot separate the onset of a disturbing moment in life from the appearance of some simultaneous new possibility to know a deeper and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/you-cannot-separate-the-onset-of-a-disturbing-moment-in-life-from-the/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [What is the nature of that place where our original self is one with its longing to explore its own deepest possibilities, and where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/what-is-the-nature-of-that-place-where-our-original-self-is-one-with/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [All created forms are fractal, as is their purpose, use, and allotted time for existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/all-created-forms-are-fractal-as-is-their-purpose-use-and-allotted/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) [Explore all 176 Guy Finley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [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/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The character of greatness must be measured in two ways, else the measurement is flawed. First, and by far most popular of all, is by one's ability to succeed in times of trial where others may fail. But of no less importance, and perhaps foundational to any form of greatness, is one's willingness to start over in spite of failure, when success seems farthest away.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Guy Finley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measured-in-two-ways-else-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measured-in-two-ways-else-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/guy-finley-2165_ability_the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measu_1119936.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/guy-finley-2165_ability_the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measu_1119936.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/guy-finley-2165_ability_the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measu_1119936.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The character of greatness must be measured in two ways, else the measurement is flawed. First, and by far…” — Guy Finley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Guy Finley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The character of greatness must be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measured-in-two-ways-else-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/the-character-of-greatness-must-be-measured-in-two-ways-else-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```