--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must not measure greatness from the…" description: "\"We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up. Jesus said that we should not be judged by the bark we wear but by the fru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/jesse-jackson-1161_bark_we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-m_527747.jpg" --- # We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but… ![“We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up. Jesus said that we should not be judged by the bark we wear but by the fruit that we bear. Jesus said that we must measure greatness by how we treat the least of these.” quote by Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/jesse-jackson-1161_bark_we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-m_527747.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/jesse-jackson-1161_bark_we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-m_527747.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/jesse-jackson-1161_bark_we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-m_527747.jpg) > “We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up. Jesus said that we should not be judged by the bark we wear but by the fruit that we bear. Jesus said that we must measure greatness by how we treat the least of these.” [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness should be judged by how we treat the poorest, not by wealth or status, emphasizing humility and service. **In simple terms:** Greatness is measured by caring for the least. Key Takeaway Serve the vulnerable to be great. Themes humility service justice equality compassion Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - community service - charitable work - policy making - everyday kindness Key Concepts ethics theology social justice Questions to Reflect On - How do you define greatness in your life? - What actions show compassion to those in need? A Different Perspective Wealthy individuals may also act compassionately, complicating the metric. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bark/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Jesus Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-said/) [Judged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judged/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Mansions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mansions/) [Measure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure/) [Measure Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure-greatness-797758/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Measure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-measure-3235364/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Treats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treats/) ## Related quotes > [We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-mansion-down-but-from-the-2/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [“My own father had always said the measure of a man wasn't how many times or how hard he got knocked down, but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/my-own-father-had-always-said-the-measure-of-a-man-wasn-t-how-many-2/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [My own father had always said the measure of a man wasn't how many times or how hard he got knocked down, but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/my-own-father-had-always-said-the-measure-of-a-man-wasn-t-how-many/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I have heard it said that the measure of a civilization is how it treats those who have hurt it. I think a further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goulston/i-have-heard-it-said-that-the-measure-of-a-civilization-is-how-it/) [Mark Goulston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goulston/) > [The true measure of greatness of a human being is their ability to express love in relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/the-true-measure-of-greatness-of-a-human-being-is-their-ability-to/) [Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/) > [Great men, great events, great epochs, it has been said, grow as we recede from them; and the rate at which they grow in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-campbell-shairp/great-men-great-events-great-epochs-it-has-been-said-grow-as-we/) [John Campbell Shairp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-campbell-shairp/) > [Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/adversity-is-another-way-to-measure-the-greatness-of-individuals-i/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [It's only when you grow up, and step back from him, or leave him for your own career and your own home-it's only then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-truman/it-s-only-when-you-grow-up-and-step-back-from-him-or-leave-him-for/) [Margaret Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-truman/) > [Service is the measure of greatness; it always has been true; it is true today, and it always will be true, that he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/service-is-the-measure-of-greatness-it-always-has-been-true-it-is/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Some measure greatness by trophies and awards, but greatness will never come unless you pick yourself up off the floor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tackett/some-measure-greatness-by-trophies-and-awards-but-greatness-will/) [Ryan Tackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tackett/) > [The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-measure-of-the-greatness-of-a-society-is-found-in-the-way-it/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [A man comes to measure his greatness by the regrets, envies and hatreds of his competitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-comes-to-measure-his-greatness-by-the-regrets-envies-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The measure of greatness in a scientific idea is the extent to which it stimulates thought and opens up new lines of research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dirac/the-measure-of-greatness-in-a-scientific-idea-is-the-extent-to-which/) [Paul Dirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dirac/) > [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/) > [A people may become great through many means, but there is only one measure by which its greatness is recognized and acknowledged. The final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/a-people-may-become-great-through-many-means-but-there-is-only-one/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) ## More by Jesse Jackson > [If my mind can conceive it ,and my heart can believe it,i known I can achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/if-my-mind-can-conceive-it-and-my-heart-can-believe-it-i-known-i-can/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We reveal our joys and successes, we conceal our pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-reveal-our-joys-and-successes-we-conceal-our-pain/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We blacks were the first people embracing Obama, long before the people at expensive fundraisers were supporting him. We gave him his first love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-blacks-were-the-first-people-embracing-obama-long-before-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Those who have the most wealth and the most property, their children have the first, the best, and the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/those-who-have-the-most-wealth-and-the-most-property-their-children/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/most-blacks-will-argue-that-they-excel-because-of-hard-work-because/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Pictures can live in one's memory. That's why they are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/pictures-can-live-in-one-s-memory-that-s-why-they-are-important/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [A check or credit card, a Gucci bag strap, anything of value will do. Give as you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/a-check-or-credit-card-a-gucci-bag-strap-anything-of-value-will-do/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-white-male-landowners-had-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [I'm too mature to be angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-m-too-mature-to-be-angry/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-food-we-nursed-their-babies/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [There are clear patterns of discrimination against Blacks and Latinos. The big banks targeted Blacks and Latinos with toxic packages of subprime predatory lending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/there-are-clear-patterns-of-discrimination-against-blacks-and-latinos/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Few would deny that blacks have become very dominant in athletics: football, basketball, track, now dominant in tennis and dominant in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/few-would-deny-that-blacks-have-become-very-dominant-in-athletics/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) [Explore all 281 Jesse Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## More Bark quotes > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Guests are people who come to your home to see you whine at the table, bark loudly, jump on women wearing pantyhose, and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-kehret/guests-are-people-who-come-to-your-home-to-see-you-whine-at-the-table/) [Peg Kehret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-kehret/) > [I was haunted always by my other life-my drab room in the Bronx, my square foot of the subway, my fixation upon the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-was-haunted-always-by-my-other-life-my-drab-room-in-the-bronx-my/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [We must guard against becoming so engrossed in the specific nature of the roots and bark of the trees of knowledge as to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/we-must-guard-against-becoming-so-engrossed-in-the-specific-nature-of/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [A tortoise is, I suppose, a Jewish pet. It knows its place. Out on the lawn. It doesn't bark. It doesn't tear the Dralon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-lipman/a-tortoise-is-i-suppose-a-jewish-pet-it-knows-its-place-out-on-the/) [Maureen Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-lipman/) > [Our legal system, including the police, is anti-Dalit and anti-poor. The death penalty laws' wrathful majesty, in blood-shot equality, deals the fatal blow on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-r-krishna-iyer/our-legal-system-including-the-police-is-anti-dalit-and-anti-poor-the/) [V. R. Krishna Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-r-krishna-iyer/) > [It is no use painting the foot of the tree white, the strength of the bark cries out from beneath the paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aime-cesaire/it-is-no-use-painting-the-foot-of-the-tree-white-the-strength-of-the/) [Aime Cesaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aime-cesaire/) > [Dogs, also, bark at what they do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/dogs-also-bark-at-what-they-do-not-know/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The dogs may bark, but the caravan moves on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-needham/the-dogs-may-bark-but-the-caravan-moves-on/) [Joseph Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-needham/) > [Dogs that bark dont bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/dogs-that-bark-dont-bite/) [German Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/german-proverb/) > [I bark my voice out through a closed throat, pretty much. It's more, perhaps, like a dog in some ways. It does have its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-bark-my-voice-out-through-a-closed-throat-pretty-much-it-s-more/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [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/) > [Don't bother about people who judge you without knowing you... Remember, dogs bark if they don't know the person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-bother-about-people-who-judge-you-without-knowing-you-remember/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you want to talk with the dogs, you must learn to bark, and bark like an old dog because he doesnt bark without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-you-want-to-talk-with-the-dogs-you-must-learn-to-bark-and-bark/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) [Browse all 383 Bark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bark/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up. Jesus said that we should not be judged by the bark we wear but by the fruit that we bear. Jesus said that we must measure greatness by how we treat the least of these.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jesse Jackson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-mansion-down-but-from-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bark" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-mansion-down-but-from-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/jesse-jackson-1161_bark_we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-m_527747.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/jesse-jackson-1161_bark_we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-m_527747.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/jesse-jackson-1161_bark_we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-m_527747.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up. Jesus said that we should not…” — Jesse Jackson", "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": "Jesse Jackson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must not measure greatness from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-mansion-down-but-from-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-must-not-measure-greatness-from-the-mansion-down-but-from-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 } } ] } ```