--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who does the most good is the greatest…" description: "\"He who does the most good is the greatest man. Power, authority, dignity, honors, wealth and station--these are so far valuable as they put it into the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/john-jortin-60461_authority_he-who-does-the-most-good-is-the-greates_664525.jpg" --- # He who does the most good is the greatest man. Power… ![“He who does the most good is the greatest man. Power, authority, dignity, honors, wealth and station--these are so far valuable as they put it into the hands of men to be more exemplary and more useful than they could be in an obscure and private life. But then these are means conducting to an…” quote by John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/john-jortin-60461_authority_he-who-does-the-most-good-is-the-greates_664525.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/john-jortin-60461_authority_he-who-does-the-most-good-is-the-greates_664525.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/john-jortin-60461_authority_he-who-does-the-most-good-is-the-greates_664525.jpg) > “He who does the most good is the greatest man. Power, authority, dignity, honors, wealth and station--these are so far valuable as they put it into the hands of men to be more exemplary and more useful than they could be in an obscure and private life. But then these are means conducting to an end, and that end is goodness.” [John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True greatness lies in using power and wealth to serve others, not for personal prestige. **In simple terms:** Greatness is measured by how you help others. Key Takeaway Use influence for good. Themes virtue leadership service humility Mood reflective inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - philanthropy - community organizing - corporate governance Key Concepts ethical philosophy social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders stay accountable to ethical goals? - What safeguards ensure wealth benefits society? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt if not checked by personal integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Authority Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority-dignity-5288159/) [Conducting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conducting/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Exemplary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exemplary/) [Good Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-greatest-863741/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) [Greatest man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-man/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Exemplary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-exemplary-5288158/) [Obscure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscure/) [Private life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-life/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Stations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stations/) [Valuable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [To work for the common good is the greatest creed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/to-work-for-the-common-good-is-the-greatest-creed/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/it-is-the-greatest-good-to-the-greatest-number-of-people-which-is-the/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the greatest number.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the-greatest-good-to-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The purpose of conservation: The greatest good to the greatest number of people for the longest time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gifford-pinchot/the-purpose-of-conservation-the-greatest-good-to-the-greatest-number/) [Gifford Pinchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gifford-pinchot/) > [“The cause of right is never lost, Leal. I've often thought the biggest damned fool in the world could to down in history as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/the-cause-of-right-is-never-lost-leal-i-ve-often-thought-the-biggest/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [The good is the greatest rival of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-l-mcclung/the-good-is-the-greatest-rival-of-the-best/) [Nellie L. McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-l-mcclung/) > [Doing good is the greatest happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/doing-good-is-the-greatest-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The work of art itself is . . . a vibrant, magical, and exemplary object which returns us to the world in some way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-work-of-art-itself-is-a-vibrant-magical-and-exemplary-object/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [A man of such obvious and exemplary charm must be a liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-brookner/a-man-of-such-obvious-and-exemplary-charm-must-be-a-liar/) [Anita Brookner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-brookner/) > [An artist is only an exemplary person if you can see in his works how life goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-handke/an-artist-is-only-an-exemplary-person-if-you-can-see-in-his-works-how/) [Peter Handke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-handke/) > [By international standards, many of the U.K.'s policies for civil society are exemplary. However, there are concerns about constraints on civil liberties - particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/by-international-standards-many-of-the-u-k-s-policies-for-civil/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [There was really interesting work going on, for example, in the Mississippi bayou, where there were some really exemplary health centers that also became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/there-was-really-interesting-work-going-on-for-example-in-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [The exemplary vanguard role of the Communists is of vital importance. Communists in the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies should set an example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-exemplary-vanguard-role-of-the-communists-is-of-vital-importance/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Many women have made the mistake of changing their beliefs to accommodate their work; it must be the other way around. No circumstance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/many-women-have-made-the-mistake-of-changing-their-beliefs-to/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [Truth be told, there are lots of companies that provide exemplary phone support. DirecTV, Virgin America and Apple are a few that regularly exceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/truth-be-told-there-are-lots-of-companies-that-provide-exemplary/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) ## More by John Jortin > [A man hath riches. Whence came they, and whither go they? for this is the way to form a judgment of the esteem which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jortin/a-man-hath-riches-whence-came-they-and-whither-go-they-for-this-is/) [John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) > [Prefer not the esteem of men to the approbation of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jortin/prefer-not-the-esteem-of-men-to-the-approbation-of-god/) [John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) > [The great duties of life are written with a sunbeam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jortin/the-great-duties-of-life-are-written-with-a-sunbeam/) [John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) > [ The art of governing \[focusing\] the passions is more useful, and more important, than many things in the search and pursuit of which we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jortin/the-art-of-governing-focusing-the-passions-is-more-useful-and-more/) [John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) [Explore all 5 John Jortin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. 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