--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing can make a man truly great but…" description: "\"Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good, and partaking of God's holiness.\" — Matthew Henry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/matthew-henry-903_god_nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-b_1901955.jpg" --- # Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good… ![“Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good, and partaking of God's holiness.” quote by Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/matthew-henry-903_god_nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-b_1901955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/matthew-henry-903_god_nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-b_1901955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/matthew-henry-903_god_nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-b_1901955.jpg) > “Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good, and partaking of God's holiness.” [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## 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 stems from genuine goodness and sharing divine holiness. **In simple terms:** Goodness, not greatness, is key. Key Takeaway Practice kindness, seek holiness. Themes morality spirituality greatness Mood contemplative inspirational Type theological motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - leadership - personal growth Key Concepts theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does being truly good mean to you? - How can you embody holiness today? A Different Perspective Goodness may be overlooked in a success‑driven culture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/god-hath-work-to-do-in-this-world-and-to-desert-it-because-of-its/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“I put no stock in religion. By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-put-no-stock-in-religion-by-the-word-religion-i-have-seen-the/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [“God’s holiness without God’s love would be unbearable. God’s love without God’s holiness would be unjust. God’s wisdom found a way to bring them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-c-oden/god-s-holiness-without-god-s-love-would-be-unbearable-god-s-love/) [Thomas C. Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-c-oden/) > [God's holiness reveals what is good by consuming what is evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-holiness-reveals-what-is-good-by-consuming-what-is-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God's holiness is not an unloving holiness, and God's love is not an unholy love. It is only by keeping these two primary moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-c-oden/god-s-holiness-is-not-an-unloving-holiness-and-god-s-love-is-not-an/) [Thomas C. Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-c-oden/) > [The cross of Jesus Christ represents the intersection of God's love and God's holiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/the-cross-of-jesus-christ-represents-the-intersection-of-god-s-love/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [They're only truly great who are truly good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chapman/they-re-only-truly-great-who-are-truly-good/) [George Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chapman/) > [The truly good is he who is one with all those who are deemed bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-truly-good-is-he-who-is-one-with-all-those-who-are-deemed-bad/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The truly good gaze upon everything with love and understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-truly-good-gaze-upon-everything-with-love-and-understanding/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A truly good movie is enjoyable too. There’s nothing complicated about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/a-truly-good-movie-is-enjoyable-too-there-s-nothing-complicated-about/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [The one good thing about dance is that if you are truly yourself, then it's all good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-reinking/the-one-good-thing-about-dance-is-that-if-you-are-truly-yourself-then/) [Ann Reinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-reinking/) > [Almost the first thing I did when I became ill was to buy a truly good television set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-brodkey/almost-the-first-thing-i-did-when-i-became-ill-was-to-buy-a-truly/) [Harold Brodkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-brodkey/) > [In spite of everything, I still believe that people are truly good at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-huber/in-spite-of-everything-i-still-believe-that-people-are-truly-good-at/) [Kurt Huber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-huber/) > [It's always great to work with masters, people who are really, truly good at what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-negron/it-s-always-great-to-work-with-masters-people-who-are-really-truly/) [Luis Negron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-negron/) > [“In the end, I think that's what matters, that he's truly a good person and that he's real. That he's someone you can hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/in-the-end-i-think-that-s-what-matters-that-he-s-truly-a-good-person/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) ## More by Matthew Henry > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-is-our-temple-in-whom-by-faith-all-believers-meet/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“When men drive God's word from them he justly permits their delusions, and answers them according to the multitude of their idols.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-justly-permits-their-delusions/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ died. He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-died-he-left-a-will-in-which-he-gave-his-soul-to-his-father/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“God's word will stand, and we shall get nothing by disputing it, or delaying to submit to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-s-word-will-stand-and-we-shall-get-nothing-by-disputing-it-or/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [We must believe that He is able to do what He will, wise to do what is best, and good, according to His promise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/we-must-believe-that-he-is-able-to-do-what-he-will-wise-to-do-what-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“When God gives law to us, we must give honour to him; when he speaks, we must bow our heads and worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-god-gives-law-to-us-we-must-give-honour-to-him-when-he-speaks-we/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“The first that dies is a martyr, and dies for his religion; and of such it may more truly be said than of soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/the-first-that-dies-is-a-martyr-and-dies-for-his-religion-and-of-such/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [They that pray in the family do well; they that pray and read the Scriptures do better; but they that pray, and read, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/they-that-pray-in-the-family-do-well-they-that-pray-and-read-the/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Let no man go beyond or defraud his brother, for, though it be hidden from man, it will be found that God is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/let-no-man-go-beyond-or-defraud-his-brother-for-though-it-be-hidden/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-are-unconcerned-in-the-affairs-of-their-brethren-and-take/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/some-people-do-not-like-to-hear-much-of-repentance-but-i-think-it-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Love is the root; obedience is the fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/love-is-the-root-obedience-is-the-fruit/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) [Explore all 332 Matthew Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. 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There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good, and partaking of God's holiness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Henry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-being-truly-good-and-partaking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-being-truly-good-and-partaking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/matthew-henry-903_god_nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-b_1901955.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/matthew-henry-903_god_nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-b_1901955.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/matthew-henry-903_god_nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-b_1901955.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good, and partaking of God's holiness.” — Matthew Henry", "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 Henry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing can make a man truly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-being-truly-good-and-partaking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/nothing-can-make-a-man-truly-great-but-being-truly-good-and-partaking/#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 } } ] } ```