---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What makes a man great is all the good…"
description: "\"“What makes a man great is all the good things he left behind and as for Atatürk, thinking generations and questioning minds are the best things he lef..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_ataturk_what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-t_2582141.jpg"
---

#  What makes a man great is all the good things he left…

![“What makes a man great is all the good things he left behind and as for Atatürk, thinking generations and questioning minds are the best things he left for Turkey!” quote by Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_ataturk_what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-t_2582141.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_ataturk_what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-t_2582141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_ataturk_what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-t_2582141.jpg)

> ““What makes a man great is all the good things he left behind and as for Atatürk, thinking generations and questioning minds are the best things he left for Turkey!””

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Greatness is measured by the lasting positive impact one leaves, as exemplified by Atatürk’s influence on future generations.

**In simple terms:** A man’s legacy is his lasting good deeds and inspiration.

Key Takeaway

Create lasting positive impact.

Themes

legacy influence national pride

Mood

proud hopeful

Type

historical motivational

When to use this quote

- political leadership
- community projects
- mentoring youth

Key Concepts

history leadership education

Questions to Reflect On

- What legacy do you wish to leave?
- How can you inspire future generations?

A Different Perspective

Legacy can be contested or forgotten over time.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ataturk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atat-rk/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Mehmet-murat-ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Turkish-literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turkish-literature/) [Turkish-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turkish-quotes/) [Turkish-writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turkish-writers/)

## Related quotes

> [“You are either Ataturk's turk or Erdogan's turk, you cannot be both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-are-either-ataturk-s-turk-or-erdogan-s-turk-you-cannot-be-both/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [We've got a lot of the meal left to go. Should we move on from the turkey?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shapiro/we-ve-got-a-lot-of-the-meal-left-to-go-should-we-move-on-from-the/)

[Ari Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shapiro/)

> [“The desired modernization and rationalisation of Turkey will never be realised till the day the Modern Turks of Atatürk come to power because only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-desired-modernization-and-rationalisation-of-turkey-will-never-be/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Don’t behave in accordance with the conditions; make the conditions behave in accordance with yourself!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/don-t-behave-in-accordance-with-the-conditions-make-the-conditions/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“He who claims to have travelled in the hard roads, let him show his shoes for the proof!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/he-who-claims-to-have-travelled-in-the-hard-roads-let-him-show-his/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“We will manage to survive in this infinite universe because we humans have infinite hopes!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-will-manage-to-survive-in-this-infinite-universe-because-we-humans/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Eğer bir parkta gözlerini kapatırsan farkına varacaksın ki etrafında gördüğün her şey aynı zamanda havadadır da çünkü her şeyin bir kokusu vardır ve her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/e-er-bir-parkta-g-zlerini-kapat-rsan-fark-na-varacaks-n-ki-etraf-nda/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“If you close your eyes in a park you will realise that everything you see around is at the same time in the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-close-your-eyes-in-a-park-you-will-realise-that-everything-you/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Güçlü sözler her zaman bütün dünyayı dolaşırlar!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/g-l-s-zler-her-zaman-b-t-n-d-nyay-dola-rlar/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“If your mind is not in the present time, your body will look like a dead body, cold and insensible!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-your-mind-is-not-in-the-present-time-your-body-will-look-like-a/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Through the darkest paths, you can reach the brightest heavens and this marvellous possibility will keep you full of life even in the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/through-the-darkest-paths-you-can-reach-the-brightest-heavens-and/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“To understand the life better, find a corner and wait there! You will then see that all sorts of things and events will suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-understand-the-life-better-find-a-corner-and-wait-there-you-will/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“The emerald life of shepherds always reminds us the romantic and humble life we have lost due to living in the cities!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-emerald-life-of-shepherds-always-reminds-us-the-romantic-and/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## More by Mehmet Murat ildan

> [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Via your talents, you can go beyond the limits!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/via-your-talents-you-can-go-beyond-the-limits/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Be the inner journeys, be the outer travels, all trips elevate man, all voyages lift him up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-the-inner-journeys-be-the-outer-travels-all-trips-elevate-man-all/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“The hardest roads are often empty; the darkest paths are mostly silent; toughest destinations are almost peopleless! No easy road brings you great victory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-hardest-roads-are-often-empty-the-darkest-paths-are-mostly-silent/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“If there are no stars on the sky, you must try to be happy with the shining streetlights!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-there-are-no-stars-on-the-sky-you-must-try-to-be-happy-with-the/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Even in a remote monastery, you may still be remote from the truth! To find the truth, all you need is a sound way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/even-in-a-remote-monastery-you-may-still-be-remote-from-the-truth-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [History respects revolutions; and yet, if a revolution is progressive, support it; if it is reactionary, resist it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/history-respects-revolutions-and-yet-if-a-revolution-is-progressive/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [If somebody tells you 'History will never forgive you,' just laugh at him! Because when the history comes, you won't be here! The threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-somebody-tells-you-history-will-never-forgive-you-just-laugh-at/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“You can drink your soup ice-cold, but it's no longer soup; you can do eccentric things in life, but if you haven't been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-drink-your-soup-ice-cold-but-it-s-no-longer-soup-you-can-do/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Face the truth or the truth will face you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/face-the-truth-or-the-truth-will-face-you/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

[Explore all 4,007 Mehmet Murat ildan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## More Ataturk quotes

> [“The desired modernization and rationalisation of Turkey will never be realised till the day the Modern Turks of Atatürk come to power because only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-desired-modernization-and-rationalisation-of-turkey-will-never-be/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [The reason Ataturk, Kemal Ataturk was and is so highly reputed, is he was attempting to modernize… That’s not the right word. Well, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-reason-ataturk-kemal-ataturk-was-and-is-so-highly-reputed-is-he/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [My father believed very strongly in Ataturk. Ataturk was a very powerful man and a man of great vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-ertegun/my-father-believed-very-strongly-in-ataturk-ataturk-was-a-very/)

[Ahmet Ertegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-ertegun/)

> [I grew up hearing that if it hadn't been for Ataturk, my grandmother would have been 'a covered person' who would have been reliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/i-grew-up-hearing-that-if-it-hadn-t-been-for-ataturk-my-grandmother/)

[Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/)

> [Ataturk approved of the mevlevi dervish approach to God as being 'an expression of Turkish genius' that reclaimed Islam from what he saw as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/ataturk-approved-of-the-mevlevi-dervish-approach-to-god-as-being-an/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [The main thing is that Ataturk saw the desperate condition of the countries that had not had an industrial revolution. Ataturk saw where history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-ertegun/the-main-thing-is-that-ataturk-saw-the-desperate-condition-of-the/)

[Ahmet Ertegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-ertegun/)

> [My father was in Ataturk's closest group. They lived together during the War of Liberation in Turkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-ertegun/my-father-was-in-ataturk-s-closest-group-they-lived-together-during/)

[Ahmet Ertegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-ertegun/)

> [“You are either Ataturk's turk or Erdogan's turk, you cannot be both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-are-either-ataturk-s-turk-or-erdogan-s-turk-you-cannot-be-both/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [Shakespeare wrote, Einstein thought, Ataturk built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/shakespeare-wrote-einstein-thought-ataturk-built/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [There is much to justify Turkey's reverence for Ataturk. He is the force that allowed Turkey to rise from the ashes of defeat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/there-is-much-to-justify-turkey-s-reverence-for-ataturk-he-is-the/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Without Ataturk's vision, without his ambition and energy, without his astonishing boldness in sweeping away traditions accumulated over centuries, today's Turkey would not exist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/without-ataturk-s-vision-without-his-ambition-and-energy-without-his/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Ataturk sent several Turkish staff officers to Afghanistan, helped them build their own army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulent-ecevit/ataturk-sent-several-turkish-staff-officers-to-afghanistan-helped/)

[Bulent Ecevit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bulent-ecevit/)

> [My father was a very religious person. And he prayed five times a day. And he did that throughout his relationship with Ataturk -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-ertegun/my-father-was-a-very-religious-person-and-he-prayed-five-times-a-day/)

[Ahmet Ertegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-ertegun/)

[Browse all 14 Ataturk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atat-rk/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“What makes a man great is all the good things he left behind and as for Atatürk, thinking generations and questioning minds are the best things he left for Turkey!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mehmet Murat ildan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-things-he-left-behind-and-as/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ataturk"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-things-he-left-behind-and-as/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_ataturk_what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-t_2582141.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_ataturk_what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-t_2582141.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_ataturk_what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-t_2582141.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What makes a man great is all the good things he left behind and as for Atatürk, thinking generations and…” — Mehmet Murat ildan",
                "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": "Mehmet Murat ildan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“What makes a man great is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-things-he-left-behind-and-as/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/what-makes-a-man-great-is-all-the-good-things-he-left-behind-and-as/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```