--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who overcomes himself is divine. Most…" description: "\"He who overcomes himself is divine. Most see their ruin before their eyes; but they go on into it.\" — Leopold von Ranke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leopold-von-ranke-41738_divine_he-who-overcomes-himself-is-divine-most_2208035.jpg" --- # He who overcomes himself is divine. Most see their ruin… ![“He who overcomes himself is divine. Most see their ruin before their eyes; but they go on into it.” quote by Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leopold-von-ranke-41738_divine_he-who-overcomes-himself-is-divine-most_2208035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leopold-von-ranke-41738_divine_he-who-overcomes-himself-is-divine-most_2208035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leopold-von-ranke-41738_divine_he-who-overcomes-himself-is-divine-most_2208035.jpg) > “He who overcomes himself is divine. Most see their ruin before their eyes; but they go on into it.” [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑mastery is divine; many anticipate failure yet persist despite looming ruin. **In simple terms:** Overcoming oneself is divine; keep going despite fear. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner discipline to face challenges. Themes self‑mastery divinity perseverance Mood determined inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - addiction recovery - athletic training Key Concepts philosophy personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What inner obstacles must you conquer? - How do you stay resilient when failure seems imminent? A Different Perspective Self‑overcoming may not guarantee external success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Divine Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-ruin-4877502/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Overcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcomes/) [Overcomes Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcomes-divine-4877501/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) ## Related quotes > [Most humans recognize their ruin, but they carry on regardless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/most-humans-recognize-their-ruin-but-they-carry-on-regardless/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [Movement overcomes cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/movement-overcomes-cold/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [When God overcomes our difficulties for us, we have the assurance that we are engaged in His work and not our own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-muller/when-god-overcomes-our-difficulties-for-us-we-have-the-assurance-that/) [George Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-muller/) > [The weak overcomes the strong. The soft overcomes the hard. Everybody in the world knows this, still nobody makes use of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-weak-overcomes-the-strong-the-soft-overcomes-the-hard-everybody/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [I go once a year to the Serengeti to see the wildebeest migrations because that means a lot to me, but I avoid Olduvai…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-leakey/i-go-once-a-year-to-the-serengeti-to-see-the-wildebeest-migrations/) [Mary Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-leakey/) > [He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-neglects-what-is-done-for-what-ought-to-be-done-sooner-effects/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There's a fascination frantic in a ruin that's romantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/there-s-a-fascination-frantic-in-a-ruin-that-s-romantic/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [Bowman turned his back on her and began to search the place methodically and exhaustively. When one searches any place, be it a gypsy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-maclean/bowman-turned-his-back-on-her-and-began-to-search-the-place/) [Alistair Maclean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-maclean/) > [There was always something hidden. Lying in wait to spring up and ruin everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/there-was-always-something-hidden-lying-in-wait-to-spring-up-and-ruin/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [Don't ruin the present with the ruined past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/don-t-ruin-the-present-with-the-ruined-past/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) > [Happiness is always the inaccessible castle which sinks in ruin when we set foot on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-houssaye/happiness-is-always-the-inaccessible-castle-which-sinks-in-ruin-when/) [Arsene Houssaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-houssaye/) > [I’d ruin any day, all my days, for those long nights with you, and I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/i-d-ruin-any-day-all-my-days-for-those-long-nights-with-you-and-i-did/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [Fear is one thing that can ruin everything. It's the greatest problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boman-irani/fear-is-one-thing-that-can-ruin-everything-it-s-the-greatest-problem/) [Boman Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boman-irani/) > [Ruin, eldest daughter of Zeus, she blinds us all, that fatal madness—she with those delicate feet of hers, never touching the earth, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ruin-eldest-daughter-of-zeus-she-blinds-us-all-that-fatal-madness-she/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [The less we show our love to a woman, Or please her less, and neglect our duty, The more we trap and ruin her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/the-less-we-show-our-love-to-a-woman-or-please-her-less-and-neglect/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) ## More by Leopold von Ranke > [Most humans recognize their ruin, but they carry on regardless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/most-humans-recognize-their-ruin-but-they-carry-on-regardless/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [History is no criminal court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/history-is-no-criminal-court/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [To history has been assigned the office of judging the past, of instructing the present for the benefit of future ages. To such high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/to-history-has-been-assigned-the-office-of-judging-the-past-of/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [It is striking how history, when resting on the memory of men, always touches the bounds of mythology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/it-is-striking-how-history-when-resting-on-the-memory-of-men-always/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [In schoolbooks and in literature we can separate ecclesiastical and political history; in the life of mankind they are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/in-schoolbooks-and-in-literature-we-can-separate-ecclesiastical-and/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [You have reckoned that history ought to judge the past and to instruct the contemporary world as to the future. The present attempt does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/you-have-reckoned-that-history-ought-to-judge-the-past-and-to/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [All ages are equidistant from eternity, and just as immediately accessible to God's presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/all-ages-are-equidistant-from-eternity-and-just-as-immediately/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [Calvin was virtually the founder of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/calvin-was-virtually-the-founder-of-america/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [Every generation is equidistant from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/every-generation-is-equidistant-from-god/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) [Explore all 10 Leopold von Ranke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) ## More Divine quotes > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [I take the seashell from my jeans pocket and rub my fingers across its silken, indented surface, shallow as my own open hand. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kenison/i-take-the-seashell-from-my-jeans-pocket-and-rub-my-fingers-across/) [Katrina Kenison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kenison/) > [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/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [In recent years my understanding of God had evolved into increasingly remote abstractions. I'd come to think of God in terms like Divine Reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/in-recent-years-my-understanding-of-god-had-evolved-into-increasingly/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“Monsters are divine portents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/monsters-are-divine-portents/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Evil may mar the divine image and cloud its brilliance, but it cannot destroy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/evil-may-mar-the-divine-image-and-cloud-its-brilliance-but-it-cannot/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Silence tells the seeker in us to love, to love himself. It tells us it is wrong to hate ourselves because of our imperfections.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/silence-tells-the-seeker-in-us-to-love-to-love-himself-it-tells-us-it/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Friend, you are a divine mingle-mangle of guts and stardust. So hang in there! If doors opened for me, they can open for anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-capra/friend-you-are-a-divine-mingle-mangle-of-guts-and-stardust-so-hang-in/) [Frank Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-capra/) > [A woman is more influenced by what she divines than by what she is told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-is-more-influenced-by-what-she-divines-than-by-what-she-is/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) [Browse all 4,543 Divine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who overcomes himself is divine. 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