---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That was the age of great men, doing what…"
description: "\"“That was the age of great men, doing what was right.”\" — Joe Abercrombie"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/joe-abercrombie-791_doing-right_that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what_2662320.png"
---

#  That was the age of great men, doing what was right.

![“That was the age of great men, doing what was right.” quote by Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/joe-abercrombie-791_doing-right_that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what_2662320.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/joe-abercrombie-791_doing-right_that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what_2662320.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/joe-abercrombie-791_doing-right_that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what_2662320.png)

> ““That was the age of great men, doing what was right.””

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Great men act morally, shaping history; their deeds define the era’s character.

**In simple terms:** Great men shape history with virtue.

Key Takeaway

Uphold moral action.

Themes

morality leadership history greatness legacy

Mood

reflective serious

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- political leadership
- military command
- social reform
- community service
- education

Key Concepts

Ethical heroism historical impact character study

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines a “great” person?
- Can morality be measured?

A Different Perspective

Moral complexity can obscure intent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Age Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-great-987786/) [Doing right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-right/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-doing-659879/)

## Related quotes

> [“Bah. What does it matter now? There are no certainties let in the world. That was the age of great men, doing what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/bah-what-does-it-matter-now-there-are-no-certainties-let-in-the-world/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Some men are made for doing violence. Some are meant for planning it. Then there are a special few whose talent is for taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/some-men-are-made-for-doing-violence-some-are-meant-for-planning-it/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [A committee is twelve men doing the work of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/a-committee-is-twelve-men-doing-the-work-of-one/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [“These are the methods of crude men. They can’t face the challenge that a safe presents to them. They can’t face the safe on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hamilton/these-are-the-methods-of-crude-men-they-can-t-face-the-challenge-that/)

[Steve Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hamilton/)

> [My hunch is that probably men are doing more both outside the home and inside the home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-levine/my-hunch-is-that-probably-men-are-doing-more-both-outside-the-home/)

[James Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-levine/)

> [So many men have holes in their souls the shape of their fathers. You can pass that on to your kid, or you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/so-many-men-have-holes-in-their-souls-the-shape-of-their-fathers-you/)

[Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/)

> [I have done a great deal of work, as much as a man, but did not get so much pay. I used to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/i-have-done-a-great-deal-of-work-as-much-as-a-man-but-did-not-get-so/)

[Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/)

> [There are a lot of black men doing really well, taking care of their families, taking care of their wives, being successful, doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/there-are-a-lot-of-black-men-doing-really-well-taking-care-of-their/)

[Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/)

> [Count your age by great life experiences, not years. Measure your life by laughter, not tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakare/count-your-age-by-great-life-experiences-not-years-measure-your-life/)

[Bakare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakare/)

> [No matter what your age you can be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/no-matter-what-your-age-you-can-be-great/)

[Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/)

> [I believe that there was a great age, a great epoch when man did not make war: previous to 2000 B.C. Then the self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/i-believe-that-there-was-a-great-age-a-great-epoch-when-man-did-not/)

[D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/)

> [Why do people talk of the horrors of old age? It's great. I feel like a fine old car with the parts gradually wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/why-do-people-talk-of-the-horrors-of-old-age-it-s-great-i-feel-like-a/)

[Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/)

> [I really believe great actors, even with disease and age, can be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-martinez/i-really-believe-great-actors-even-with-disease-and-age-can-be-great/)

[Olivier Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-martinez/)

> [Old age has a great sense of calm and freedom. When the passions have relaxed their hold and have escaped, not from one master,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/old-age-has-a-great-sense-of-calm-and-freedom-when-the-passions-have/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [Discrimination due to age is one of the great tragedies of modern life. The desire to work and be useful is what makes life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-ball/discrimination-due-to-age-is-one-of-the-great-tragedies-of-modern/)

[Johnny Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-ball/)

## More by Joe Abercrombie

> [“She shrugged. “I fell. I’m a clumsy fool.” “I know how you feel. I’m such a fool I knocked half my teeth out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/she-shrugged-i-fell-i-m-a-clumsy-fool-i-know-how-you-feel-i-m-such-a/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [Things aren't what they used to be' is the rallying cry of small minds. When men say things used to be better, they invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/things-aren-t-what-they-used-to-be-is-the-rallying-cry-of-small-minds/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Mercy and weakness are the same thing in war, and there's no prize for nice behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/mercy-and-weakness-are-the-same-thing-in-war-and-there-s-no-prize-for/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“The lowly have small ambitions, and are satisfied with small indulgences. They need not get fair treatment. They need only think that they do... ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-lowly-have-small-ambitions-and-are-satisfied-with-small/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“What do the dice say?" Dice say nothing. They are dice." Why roll'em, then?" They are dice. What else would I do with them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/what-do-the-dice-say-dice-say-nothing-they-are-dice-why-roll-em-then/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“You have to realistic about these things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/you-have-to-realistic-about-these-things/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“That was the difference between a hero and a villain, a soldier and a murderer, a victory and a crime. Which side of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/that-was-the-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-villain-a-soldier-and-a/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Nostalgia was becoming a favoured hobby of his. Strange, how the best moments of our lives we scarcely notice except in looking back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/nostalgia-was-becoming-a-favoured-hobby-of-his-strange-how-the-best/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“The only difference between war and murder is the number of dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-only-difference-between-war-and-murder-is-the-number-of-dead/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [Names turned over by time, like the plough turning the soil. Bringing up the new while the old were buried in the mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/names-turned-over-by-time-like-the-plough-turning-the-soil-bringing/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Knives,’ muttered Calder, ‘and threats, and bribes, and war?’ Bayaz’ eyes shone with the lamplight. ‘Yes?’ ‘What kind of a fucking wizard are you?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/knives-muttered-calder-and-threats-and-bribes-and-war-bayaz-eyes/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Straining and straining, getting nowhere, but unable to stop pushing in case the rock should fall and crush him. Meanwhile, arrogant bastards who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/straining-and-straining-getting-nowhere-but-unable-to-stop-pushing-in/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Yarvi: 'If we had known the hardship of it, we might have chosen another.' Shidwala: 'So it is with many choices.' Yarvi: 'All we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/yarvi-if-we-had-known-the-hardship-of-it-we-might-have-chosen-another/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/sometimes-men-change-for-the-better-sometimes-men-change-for-the/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“A bitter ending' said Yarvi. 'Many sweet stories have them', said Jaud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/a-bitter-ending-said-yarvi-many-sweet-stories-have-them-said-jaud/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

[Explore all 364 Joe Abercrombie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

## More Doing right quotes

> [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/)

[John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/)

> [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/)

[Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/)

> [Money will come to you when you are doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phillips/money-will-come-to-you-when-you-are-doing-the-right-thing/)

[Michael Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phillips/)

> [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/)

[Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/)

> [Any artist can't get away from the way the world works, which is that it wants to know what you did, and you're only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/any-artist-can-t-get-away-from-the-way-the-world-works-which-is-that/)

[Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/)

> [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [“Because doing what is right is in your bones. Just follow where your bones take you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/because-doing-what-is-right-is-in-your-bones-just-follow-where-your/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [It's all about doing the right things at the right times and I believe I can win everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-cross/it-s-all-about-doing-the-right-things-at-the-right-times-and-i/)

[Rob Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-cross/)

> [You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/you-should-never-be-proud-of-doing-the-right-thing-you-should-just-do/)

[Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/)

> [“Management is about doing things right; leadership is about doing the right things. Peter Drucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-banfield/management-is-about-doing-things-right-leadership-is-about-doing-the/)

[Richard Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-banfield/)

> [Audiences are hungry for something different. With binge-watching, they're hungry for interesting content they haven't seen before, and they want to be entertained. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-millar/audiences-are-hungry-for-something-different-with-binge-watching-they/)

[Miles Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-millar/)

> [“Doing better is creativity, doing faster is creativity, doing smarter is creativity, doing right is creativity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/doing-better-is-creativity-doing-faster-is-creativity-doing-smarter/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [I went to Oregon to study permaculture and lived in an eco-village for a month outside Eugene. Its called Lost Valley. It was amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-went-to-oregon-to-study-permaculture-and-lived-in-an-eco-village/)

[Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/)

> [Never let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-jenkins/never-let-making-a-profit-stand-in-the-way-of-doing-the-right-thing/)

[George W. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-jenkins/)

> [Knowing what is right is not the same as doing what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-caine/knowing-what-is-right-is-not-the-same-as-doing-what-is-right/)

[Christine Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-caine/)

[Browse all 734 Doing right quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-right/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“That was the age of great men, doing what was right.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joe Abercrombie"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what-was-right/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doing right"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what-was-right/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/joe-abercrombie-791_doing-right_that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what_2662320.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/joe-abercrombie-791_doing-right_that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what_2662320.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/joe-abercrombie-791_doing-right_that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what_2662320.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That was the age of great men, doing what was right.” — Joe Abercrombie",
                "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": "Joe Abercrombie",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“That was the age of great...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what-was-right/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/that-was-the-age-of-great-men-doing-what-was-right/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
