--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only greatness for man is immortality." description: "\"The only greatness for man is immortality.\" — James Dean" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/james-dean-9253_death_the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortalit_2111775.jpg" --- # The only greatness for man is immortality. ![“The only greatness for man is immortality.” quote by James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/james-dean-9253_death_the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortalit_2111775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/james-dean-9253_death_the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortalit_2111775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/james-dean-9253_death_the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortalit_2111775.jpg) > “The only greatness for man is immortality.” [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that achieving lasting significance lies in leaving a lasting legacy beyond mortal life. **In simple terms:** True greatness is achieved through lasting legacy. Key Takeaway Focus on creating enduring impact. Themes legacy meaning mortality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic creation - scientific discovery - philanthropy - family lineage Key Concepts existentialism eternity Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you wish to leave? - How do you balance present joy with future impact? A Different Perspective It may overlook the value of present‑day fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) ## Related quotes > [“If a man can bridge the gap between life and death,if he can live after he's died, then maybe he was a great man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/if-a-man-can-bridge-the-gap-between-life-and-death-if-he-can-live/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [“I think there is only one form of greatness for man. If a man can bridge the gap between life and death. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-think-there-is-only-one-form-of-greatness-for-man-if-a-man-can/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [Creation is man's immortality and brings him nearest to the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/creation-is-man-s-immortality-and-brings-him-nearest-to-the-gods/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If God bestowed immortality on every man then when he made him, and he made many to whom he never purposed to give his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/if-god-bestowed-immortality-on-every-man-then-when-he-made-him-and-he/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“A finished tale may give a man immortality in the light and literary sense; but an unfinished tale suggests another immortality, more essential and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/a-finished-tale-may-give-a-man-immortality-in-the-light-and-literary/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [If there is a God, man's immortality is certain. If not, Immortality would not be worth having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-s-brightman/if-there-is-a-god-man-s-immortality-is-certain-if-not-immortality/) Edgar S. Brightman > [A man's immortality can be found in his children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/a-man-s-immortality-can-be-found-in-his-children/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Do not believe that others will die, not you… I have wrestled with Thanatos knee to knee and I know how death is vanquished.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/do-not-believe-that-others-will-die-not-you-i-have-wrestled-with/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/surely-god-would-not-have-created-such-a-being-as-man-with-an-ability/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The tourist who moves about to see and hear and open himself to all the influences of the places which condense centuries of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/the-tourist-who-moves-about-to-see-and-hear-and-open-himself-to-all/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be wretched. A tree does not know itself to be wretched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-greatness-of-man-is-great-in-that-he-knows-himself-to-be-wretched/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [In these two things the greatness of man consists, to have God dwelling in us as to impart His character to us, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/in-these-two-things-the-greatness-of-man-consists-to-have-god/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [Real greatness has nothing to do with a man’s sphere. It does not lie in the magnitude of his outward agency, in the extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/real-greatness-has-nothing-to-do-with-a-man-s-sphere-it-does-not-lie/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [The thing which makes one man greater than another, the quality by which we ought to measure greatness, is a man's capacity for loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/the-thing-which-makes-one-man-greater-than-another-the-quality-by/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [It should be the historian's business not to belittle but to illuminate the greatness of man's spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-v-wedgwood/it-should-be-the-historian-s-business-not-to-belittle-but-to/) [C. V. Wedgwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-v-wedgwood/) ## More by James Dean > [“No pretendo ser el mejor. Únicamente quiero volar tan alto que nadie pueda alcanzarme. No para demostrar nada, sólo quiero llegar a donde se…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/no-pretendo-ser-el-mejor-nicamente-quiero-volar-tan-alto-que-nadie/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [“I'd rather have people hiss than yawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-d-rather-have-people-hiss-than-yawn/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [Forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/forgive-quickly-kiss-slowly-love-truly-laugh-uncontrollably/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [I don't have to explain anything to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-don-t-have-to-explain-anything-to-anybody/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [I also became close to nature, and am now able to appreciate the beauty with which this world is endowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-also-became-close-to-nature-and-am-now-able-to-appreciate-the/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [An actor should be judged by his performance only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/an-actor-should-be-judged-by-his-performance-only/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [Reality doesn't have any preconceived ideas. You've got to learn how to smoke the cigarette, not act smoking the cigarette. You need to drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/reality-doesn-t-have-any-preconceived-ideas-you-ve-got-to-learn-how/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [You try to be yourself, do only what you've always done and like to do, and right away, you're tagged as an oddball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/you-try-to-be-yourself-do-only-what-you-ve-always-done-and-like-to-do/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [I don't want anything seventy-thirty. Fifty-fifty's always good enough for me. I don't want to have to give anybody seventy; I don't want anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-don-t-want-anything-seventy-thirty-fifty-fifty-s-always-good-enough/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [“If a man can bridge the gap between life and death,if he can live after he's died, then maybe he was a great man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/if-a-man-can-bridge-the-gap-between-life-and-death-if-he-can-live/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/my-purpose-in-life-does-not-include-a-hankering-to-charm-society/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [But you can't show some far off idyllic conception of behavior if you want the kids to come and see the picture. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/but-you-can-t-show-some-far-off-idyllic-conception-of-behavior-if-you/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [I think the one thing this picture shows that's new is the psychological disproportion of the kids' demands on the parents. Parents are often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-think-the-one-thing-this-picture-shows-that-s-new-is-the/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [Dream as though you'll live forever, Live as though you'll die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/dream-as-though-you-ll-live-forever-live-as-though-you-ll-die-tomorrow/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [What do we need all that for?”If a picture is psychologically motivated, if there is truth in the relationship in it, then I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/what-do-we-need-all-that-for-if-a-picture-is-psychologically/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) [Explore all 73 James Dean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only greatness for man is immortality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Dean" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortality/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortality/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/james-dean-9253_death_the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortalit_2111775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/james-dean-9253_death_the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortalit_2111775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42e/james-dean-9253_death_the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortalit_2111775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only greatness for man is immortality.” — James Dean", "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": "James Dean", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only greatness for man is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortality/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortality/#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 } } ] } ```