--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no greatness where simplicity…" description: "\"“There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth are absent”\" — Leo Tolstoy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/leo-tolstoy-55_goodness_there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-g_30550.png" --- # There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth… ![“There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth are absent” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/leo-tolstoy-55_goodness_there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-g_30550.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/leo-tolstoy-55_goodness_there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-g_30550.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/leo-tolstoy-55_goodness_there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-g_30550.png) > ““There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth are absent”” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness requires simplicity, goodness, and truth; without them, achievements are hollow. **In simple terms:** Greatness needs virtue and clarity. Key Takeaway Virtue underpins true greatness. Themes Virtue Simplicity Truth Integrity Excellence Mood Inspirational Reflective Type Philosophical Moral When to use this quote - Leadership decisions - Creative projects - Organizational culture - Personal development Key Concepts Moral foundation Authenticity Practical Applications - Ethical leadership - Brand building Questions to Reflect On - What values must be present for lasting impact? - How does simplicity enhance credibility? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/there-is-no-greatness-where-there-is-no-simplicity-goodness-and-truth/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [For us, with the rule of right and wrong given us by Christ, there is nothing for which we have no standard. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/for-us-with-the-rule-of-right-and-wrong-given-us-by-christ-there-is/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [There is goodness as well as greatness in simplicity, not in wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/there-is-goodness-as-well-as-greatness-in-simplicity-not-in-wealth/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Never to the end of his life could he understand goodness, beauty, or truth, or the significance of his actions which were too contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/never-to-the-end-of-his-life-could-he-understand-goodness-beauty-or/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [God who is goodness and truth is also beauty. It is this innate human and divine longing, found in the company of goodness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberta-bondi/god-who-is-goodness-and-truth-is-also-beauty-it-is-this-innate-human/) [Roberta Bondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberta-bondi/) > [“In Christian tradition, beauty, goodness, and truth are known as “transcendentals,” linked to the three core human abilities to feel, to wish, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/in-christian-tradition-beauty-goodness-and-truth-are-known-as/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [The capacity to accept suffering for the sake of goodness, truth and justice is an essential criterion of humanity, because if my own well-being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-capacity-to-accept-suffering-for-the-sake-of-goodness-truth-and/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“It is not enough for a Christian to condemn evil, cowardice, lies, and use of force, hatred, and oppression. He must at all times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerzy-popie-uszko/it-is-not-enough-for-a-christian-to-condemn-evil-cowardice-lies-and/) Jerzy Popiełuszko > [“Look after goodness and truth, beauty will look after herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-gill/look-after-goodness-and-truth-beauty-will-look-after-herself/) [Eric Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-gill/) > [I keep working because I am quite sure that no particle of goodness or truth is ever really lost, however appearances may be to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/i-keep-working-because-i-am-quite-sure-that-no-particle-of-goodness/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [Goodness, Truth and Beauty come first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/goodness-truth-and-beauty-come-first/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [If you look after goodness and truth, beauty will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-look-after-goodness-and-truth-beauty-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have been asked many times, Why do you laugh so much and make so many jokes? I become serious sometimes-when I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/i-have-been-asked-many-times-why-do-you-laugh-so-much-and-make-so/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Ought we not to look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of His goodness and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/ought-we-not-to-look-upon-our-own-history-as-being-at-least-as-full/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [That which you create in beauty and goodness and truth lives on for all time to come. Don't spend your life accumulating material objects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/that-which-you-create-in-beauty-and-goodness-and-truth-lives-on-for/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Goodness quotes > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [Love reacts with goodness towards those who ill-treat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/love-reacts-with-goodness-towards-those-who-ill-treat-it/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [the path of goodness had a name it is called Love in it we find the key to every hope and has it's root…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/the-path-of-goodness-had-a-name-it-is-called-love-in-it-we-find-the/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [To make one good action succeed another, is the perfection of goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/to-make-one-good-action-succeed-another-is-the-perfection-of-goodness/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [The living can't quit living because the world has turned terrible and people they love and need are killed. They can't because they don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-living-can-t-quit-living-because-the-world-has-turned-terrible/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-good-man-therefore-is-a-standing-lesson-to-us-all/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Sometimes resilience arrives in the moment you discover your own unshakeable goodness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/sometimes-resilience-arrives-in-the-moment-you-discover-your-own/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) [Browse all 3,129 Goodness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth are absent”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-goodness-and-truth-are-absent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goodness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-goodness-and-truth-are-absent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/leo-tolstoy-55_goodness_there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-g_30550.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/leo-tolstoy-55_goodness_there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-g_30550.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/leo-tolstoy-55_goodness_there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-g_30550.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth are absent” — Leo Tolstoy", "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": "Leo Tolstoy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There is no greatness where simplicity,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-goodness-and-truth-are-absent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/there-is-no-greatness-where-simplicity-goodness-and-truth-are-absent/#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 } } ] } ```