--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man's highest merit always is, as much as…" description: "\"Man's highest merit always is, as much as possible, to rule external circumstances and as little as possible to let himself be ruled by them.\" — Johann..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as_1021219.jpg" --- # Man's highest merit always is, as much as possible, to… ![“Man's highest merit always is, as much as possible, to rule external circumstances and as little as possible to let himself be ruled by them.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as_1021219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as_1021219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as_1021219.jpg) > “Man's highest merit always is, as much as possible, to rule external circumstances and as little as possible to let himself be ruled by them.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control external events while staying internally free, minimizing external domination over one’s life. **In simple terms:** Rule circumstances, stay self‑governed. Key Takeaway Focus on inner agency over external control. Themes self‑mastery freedom resilience Mood determined reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - stress management - decision making Key Concepts Stoicism autonomy inner strength Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep inner freedom when external pressures rise? - What habits protect you from being ruled by circumstances? A Different Perspective External forces can still overwhelm despite best intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/for-it-has-been-said-all-that-a-man-hath-will-he-give-for-his-life/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [... the greater part of the population is not very intelligent, dreads responsibility, and desires nothing better than to be told what to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-greater-part-of-the-population-is-not-very-intelligent-dreads/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [No limits are set to the ascent of man, and to each and everyone the highest stands open. Here it is only your personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/no-limits-are-set-to-the-ascent-of-man-and-to-each-and-everyone-the/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [A man's very highest moment is, I have no doubt at all, when he kneels in the dust, and beats his breast, and tells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-man-s-very-highest-moment-is-i-have-no-doubt-at-all-when-he-kneels/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bewildered as he might be, sometimes a man's highest calling is simply to stand, and hug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/bewildered-as-he-might-be-sometimes-a-man-s-highest-calling-is-simply/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [The man who is in the highest state of prosperity, and who thinks his fortune is most secure, knows not if it will remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/the-man-who-is-in-the-highest-state-of-prosperity-and-who-thinks-his/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) > [Man is the highest being in creation, because he attains to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/man-is-the-highest-being-in-creation-because-he-attains-to-freedom/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Man was made for the highest activity, which is, in fact, his rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/man-was-made-for-the-highest-activity-which-is-in-fact-his-rest/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [This it is to be a man of the highest type: to be and not seem; to do and not simply to talk; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossian-everett-mills/this-it-is-to-be-a-man-of-the-highest-type-to-be-and-not-seem-to-do/) Ossian Everett Mills > [Every man's highest, nameless though it be, is his 'living God'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martineau/every-man-s-highest-nameless-though-it-be-is-his-living-god/) [James Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martineau/) > [Man is the highest being that exists, and this is the greatest world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/man-is-the-highest-being-that-exists-and-this-is-the-greatest-world/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is conceded by all that man is the very highest type of all living creatures on the earth. His intelligence is far superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-franklin-rutherford/it-is-conceded-by-all-that-man-is-the-very-highest-type-of-all-living/) [Joseph Franklin Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-franklin-rutherford/) > [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/) > [Vanity is a desire of personal glory, the wish to be appreciated, honoured, and run after, not because of one's personal qualities, merits, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/vanity-is-a-desire-of-personal-glory-the-wish-to-be-appreciated/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [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/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man's highest merit always is, as much as possible, to rule external circumstances and as little as possible to let himself be ruled by them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as-possible-to-rule-external/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circumstances" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as-possible-to-rule-external/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as_1021219.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as_1021219.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as_1021219.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man's highest merit always is, as much as possible, to rule external circumstances and as little as possible…” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "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": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man's highest merit always is, as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as-possible-to-rule-external/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/man-s-highest-merit-always-is-as-much-as-possible-to-rule-external/#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 } } ] } ```