--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One is too small a number to achieve…" description: "\"One is too small a number to achieve greatness. No accomplishment of real value has ever been achieved by a human being working alone.\" — John C. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-c-maxwell-113_accomplishment_one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-gre_1843248.jpg" --- # One is too small a number to achieve greatness. No… ![“One is too small a number to achieve greatness. No accomplishment of real value has ever been achieved by a human being working alone.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-c-maxwell-113_accomplishment_one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-gre_1843248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-c-maxwell-113_accomplishment_one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-gre_1843248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-c-maxwell-113_accomplishment_one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-gre_1843248.jpg) > “One is too small a number to achieve greatness. No accomplishment of real value has ever been achieved by a human being working alone.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great achievements require collaboration; solitary effort rarely yields significant results. **In simple terms:** Success needs teamwork, not solo work. Key Takeaway Seek partners and build collaborative networks. Themes teamwork achievement collaboration leadership interdependence Mood inspirational motivational Type leadership teamwork When to use this quote - business projects - scientific research - artistic productions - community initiatives Key Concepts collective intelligence synergy social capital Questions to Reflect On - What strengths do you bring to a team? - How can you support others’ success? A Different Perspective Individual brilliance can still be vital in certain fields. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Accomplishment Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment-real-2367813/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Achieve greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-greatness/) [Achieved Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieved-human-2367812/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Greatness Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness-accomplishment-2367811/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-value/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Working alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-alone/) ## Related quotes > [The more facilities today are to be achieved as being a more human lubber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-more-facilities-today-are-to-be-achieved-as-being-a-more-human/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [ “The feeling of accomplishment is more real and satisfying than finishing a good meal or looking at one’s accumulated wealth.”\[28\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hyde-stevens/the-feeling-of-accomplishment-is-more-real-and-satisfying-than/) [Elizabeth Hyde Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hyde-stevens/) > [The ultimate destiny of the human race is the greatest moral perfection, provided that it is achieved through human freedom, whereby alone man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-ultimate-destiny-of-the-human-race-is-the-greatest-moral/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Making lots of friends isn't an accomplishment, the real triumph is having good friends who stand beside you, don't gossip about you, and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/making-lots-of-friends-isn-t-an-accomplishment-the-real-triumph-is/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [For the person trying to do everything alone, the game really is over. If you want to do something big, you must link up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/for-the-person-trying-to-do-everything-alone-the-game-really-is-over/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [No one achieves greatness by becoming a generalist. You don't hone a skill by diluting your attention to its development. The only way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/no-one-achieves-greatness-by-becoming-a-generalist-you-don-t-hone-a/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“The mind working alone produces thought; the heart produces feeling; the tongue makes speech and the hand in isolation makes scribble: all four together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hewitt/the-mind-working-alone-produces-thought-the-heart-produces-feeling/) [Geoff Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hewitt/) > [“Humility is, "nothing but that simple consent of the creature to let God be all, in virtue of which it surrenders itself to His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/humility-is-nothing-but-that-simple-consent-of-the-creature-to-let/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [Collaboration is such a thrill when you're working with someone you really respect. When it's just one person working alone you get a singular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-sheff/collaboration-is-such-a-thrill-when-you-re-working-with-someone-you/) [Will Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-sheff/) > [“If you are working together, you can never be working alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-blumenstein/if-you-are-working-together-you-can-never-be-working-alone/) [Jacob Blumenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-blumenstein/) > [“The team must consist of three sorts of specialists, he says. Otherwise the revolution, whether in politics or the arts or the sciences or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-team-must-consist-of-three-sorts-of-specialists-he-says-otherwise/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Working alone definitely has its advantages. There was no need for second-guessing decisions or discussions on how to work more efficiently. When you’re alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-castellon/working-alone-definitely-has-its-advantages-there-was-no-need-for/) [Justine Castellon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-castellon/) > [Freelance isn't for everyone - you've got to be aggressive and enjoy working alone. But you could make more money than you ever imagined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/freelance-isn-t-for-everyone-you-ve-got-to-be-aggressive-and-enjoy/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [People say it's a quiet flow, that it sounds like I'm in a library. That could have come from when I was living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valee/people-say-it-s-a-quiet-flow-that-it-sounds-like-i-m-in-a-library/) [Valee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valee/) > [“We know and believe in our hearts that children become more engaged, motivated, and successful when they have choice over what they read, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-boushey-and-joan-moser/we-know-and-believe-in-our-hearts-that-children-become-more-engaged/) [Gail boushey and Joan Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-boushey-and-joan-moser/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) [Anthony Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-sargent/) > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One is too small a number to achieve greatness. No accomplishment of real value has ever been achieved by a human being working alone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John C. Maxwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-greatness-no-accomplishment-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-greatness-no-accomplishment-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-c-maxwell-113_accomplishment_one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-gre_1843248.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-c-maxwell-113_accomplishment_one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-gre_1843248.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-c-maxwell-113_accomplishment_one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-gre_1843248.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One is too small a number to achieve greatness. No accomplishment of real value has ever been achieved by a…” — John C. Maxwell", "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": "John C. Maxwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One is too small a number...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-greatness-no-accomplishment-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/one-is-too-small-a-number-to-achieve-greatness-no-accomplishment-of/#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 } } ] } ```