--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Greatness is a spiritual condition." description: "\"Greatness is a spiritual condition.\" — Matthew Arnold" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/matthew-arnold-1235_condition_greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition-31782_3178230.jpg" --- # Greatness is a spiritual condition. ![“Greatness is a spiritual condition.” quote by Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/matthew-arnold-1235_condition_greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition-31782_3178230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/matthew-arnold-1235_condition_greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition-31782_3178230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/matthew-arnold-1235_condition_greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition-31782_3178230.jpg) > “Greatness is a spiritual condition.” [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness stems from inner spiritual depth rather than external achievement. **In simple terms:** Spiritual inner greatness. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner spiritual health. Themes spirituality greatness inner self Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - creative work - ethical decisions Key Concepts philosophy self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture your spirit? - What external goals complement inner growth? A Different Perspective Spiritual focus may ignore practical skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condition/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Greatness Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness-spiritual-824202/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual Condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-condition-757357/) ## Related quotes > [Greatness is a spiritual condition worthy to excite love, interest, and admiration; and the outward proof of possessing greatness is that we excite love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition-worthy-to-excite-love-interest-and/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [There are only two sorts of greatness: true greatness, which is of a spiritual order, and the old, old lie of world conquest. Conquest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/there-are-only-two-sorts-of-greatness-true-greatness-which-is-of-a/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Often, we ignore the fact that our spiritual condition and psychological state of mind are highly affected by what is happening to us physically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/often-we-ignore-the-fact-that-our-spiritual-condition-and-2/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [The very fact that we find it hard to conceive of an alternative to limitless economic growth is an indication of our spiritual condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/the-very-fact-that-we-find-it-hard-to-conceive-of-an-alternative-to/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [We are not cured of alcoholism. What we have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-griffith-wilson/we-are-not-cured-of-alcoholism-what-we-have-is-a-daily-reprieve/) [William Griffith Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-griffith-wilson/) > [The way we use our money is a barometer of our present spiritual condition. Our neglect of the poor illustrates much about where our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-way-we-use-our-money-is-a-barometer-of-our-present-spiritual/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [God's love does not depend on the current spiritual condition of those He loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/god-s-love-does-not-depend-on-the-current-spiritual-condition-of/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [No matter what your spiritual condition is, no matter where you find yourself in the universe, your choice is always the same: to expand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thaddeus-golas/no-matter-what-your-spiritual-condition-is-no-matter-where-you-find/) [Thaddeus Golas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thaddeus-golas/) > [In religious circles, depression is often deemed to be a spiritual condition that can be cured with prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/in-religious-circles-depression-is-often-deemed-to-be-a-spiritual/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [Often, we ignore the fact that our spiritual condition and psychological state of mind are highly affected by what is happening to us physically.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/often-we-ignore-the-fact-that-our-spiritual-condition-and/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [“Looking back now, I mourn the mutual wounds inflicted in verbal battles with the "unsaved". In fact, I have chosen to delete that particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hallr/looking-back-now-i-mourn-the-mutual-wounds-inflicted-in-verbal/) [Ron Hallr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hallr/) > [“It is the highest activity of the human soul, and therefore it is at the same time the ultimate test of a man’s true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-macarthur-jr/it-is-the-highest-activity-of-the-human-soul-and-therefore-it-is-at/) [John F. MacArthur Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-macarthur-jr/) > [“The idea of seeking help in her difficulty in religion was as remote from her as seeking help from Alexey Alexandrovitch himself, although she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-of-seeking-help-in-her-difficulty-in-religion-was-as-remote/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I have learned that I cannot see into a person's heart to know his spiritual condition. All I can do is tell the jagged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hall/i-have-learned-that-i-cannot-see-into-a-person-s-heart-to-know-his/) [Ron Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hall/) > [“You couldn’t make sense of illness or pain or the long good-bye, but you would deal with it because you had no choice, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-maazel/you-couldn-t-make-sense-of-illness-or-pain-or-the-long-good-bye-but/) [Fiona Maazel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-maazel/) ## More by Matthew Arnold > [Culture looks beyond machinery, culture hates hatred; culture has one great passion, the passion for sweetness and light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/culture-looks-beyond-machinery-culture-hates-hatred-culture-has-one/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [We must hold fast to the austere but true doctrine as to what really governs politics and saves or destroys states. Having in mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/we-must-hold-fast-to-the-austere-but-true-doctrine-as-to-what-really/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [“Culture is the endeavour to know the best and to make this knowledge prevail for the good of all humankind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/culture-is-the-endeavour-to-know-the-best-and-to-make-this-knowledge/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [The difference between genuine poetry and the poetry of Dryden, Pope, and all their school, is briefly this: their poetry is conceived and composed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/the-difference-between-genuine-poetry-and-the-poetry-of-dryden-pope/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Culture, the acquainting ourselves with the best that has been known and said in the world, and thus with the history of the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/culture-the-acquainting-ourselves-with-the-best-that-has-been-known/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Strew on her roses, roses, And never a spray of yew! In quiet she reposes; Ah, would that I did too!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/strew-on-her-roses-roses-and-never-a-spray-of-yew-in-quiet-she/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Nature, with equal mind, Sees all her sons at play, Sees man control the wind, The wind sweep man away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/nature-with-equal-mind-sees-all-her-sons-at-play-sees-man-control-the/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Six years-six little years-six drops of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/six-years-six-little-years-six-drops-of-time/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Let the long contention cease! / Geese are swans, and swans are geese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/let-the-long-contention-cease-geese-are-swans-and-swans-are-geese/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [It is almost impossible to exaggerate the proneness of the human mind to take miracles as evidence, and to seek for miracles as evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/it-is-almost-impossible-to-exaggerate-the-proneness-of-the-human-mind/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Religion is ethics heightened, enkindled, lit up by feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/religion-is-ethics-heightened-enkindled-lit-up-by-feeling/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Genius is mainly an affair of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/genius-is-mainly-an-affair-of-energy/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Culture is both an intellectual phenomenon and a moral one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/culture-is-both-an-intellectual-phenomenon-and-a-moral-one/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [English civilization the humanizing, the bringing into one harmonious and truly humane life, of the whole body of English society that is what interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/english-civilization-the-humanizing-the-bringing-into-one-harmonious/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [“Wandering between two worlds, one dead The other powerless to be born, With nowhere yet to rest my head Like these, on earth I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/wandering-between-two-worlds-one-dead-the-other-powerless-to-be-born/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) [Explore all 267 Matthew Arnold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) ## More Condition quotes > [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/) [Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/) > [I am not my skin. I am a model with a skin condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-harlow/i-am-not-my-skin-i-am-a-model-with-a-skin-condition/) [Winnie Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-harlow/) > [Even a cup of coffee tastes so much sweeter because you've come once again out of the, literally, out of the edge of death,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-koch/even-a-cup-of-coffee-tastes-so-much-sweeter-because-you-ve-come-once/) [Christopher Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-koch/) > [I see film as a real opportunity to examine the human condition. No matter where the technology goes in the future, the basics don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schultz/i-see-film-as-a-real-opportunity-to-examine-the-human-condition-no/) [Michael Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schultz/) > [To any mental state there corresponds a physical condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-alfred-lynch/to-any-mental-state-there-corresponds-a-physical-condition/) [Arthur Alfred Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-alfred-lynch/) > [I am repeatedly asked in interviews exactly 'what's wrong' with me, and I always give them the same answer; I don't identify the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/i-am-repeatedly-asked-in-interviews-exactly-what-s-wrong-with-me-and/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [Democracy is a process, not a static condition. It is becoming, rather than being. It can be easily lost, but is never finally won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-hastie/democracy-is-a-process-not-a-static-condition-it-is-becoming-rather/) [William H. Hastie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-hastie/) > [Human beings are interested in the human condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/human-beings-are-interested-in-the-human-condition/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [My parents were angry, but they were relieved that I was in good condition. They had been afraid the Russians would torture me. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathias-rust/my-parents-were-angry-but-they-were-relieved-that-i-was-in-good/) [Mathias Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathias-rust/) > [So you see, old age is really not so bad. May you come to know the condition!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/so-you-see-old-age-is-really-not-so-bad-may-you-come-to-know-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I have heard that whoever loves is in no condition old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-have-heard-that-whoever-loves-is-in-no-condition-old/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No matter what schemes you have, if you're not in condition to run, you can't succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-paysinger/no-matter-what-schemes-you-have-if-you-re-not-in-condition-to-run-you/) [Spencer Paysinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-paysinger/) > [There is no condition for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/there-is-no-condition-for-forgiveness/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [“I was not alone in the human condition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/i-was-not-alone-in-the-human-condition/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) > [A condition of complete simplicity (Costing not less than everything)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-condition-of-complete-simplicity-costing-not-less-than-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 356 Condition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Greatness is a spiritual condition.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Arnold" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Condition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/matthew-arnold-1235_condition_greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition-31782_3178230.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/matthew-arnold-1235_condition_greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition-31782_3178230.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/matthew-arnold-1235_condition_greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition-31782_3178230.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Greatness is a spiritual condition.” — Matthew Arnold", "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": "Matthew Arnold", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Greatness is a spiritual condition.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/greatness-is-a-spiritual-condition/#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 } } ] } ```