--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easier to sacrifice great than…" description: "\"It is easier to sacrifice great than little things.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/michel-de-montaigne-142_easier_it-is-easier-to-sacrifice-great-than-lit_3025836.jpg" --- # It is easier to sacrifice great than little things. ![“It is easier to sacrifice great than little things.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/michel-de-montaigne-142_easier_it-is-easier-to-sacrifice-great-than-lit_3025836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/michel-de-montaigne-142_easier_it-is-easier-to-sacrifice-great-than-lit_3025836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/michel-de-montaigne-142_easier_it-is-easier-to-sacrifice-great-than-lit_3025836.jpg) > “It is easier to sacrifice great than little things.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sacrificing significant things is easier than giving up minor ones, suggesting people avoid major changes. **In simple terms:** Big sacrifices feel easier than small ones. Key Takeaway Prioritize meaningful change over trivial comforts. Themes philosophy behavior change priorities effort Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - career change - habit breaking - financial planning Key Concepts decision theory self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What small habits hinder your growth? - How can you tackle them? A Different Perspective Minor sacrifices can accumulate into larger issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) ## Related quotes > [“So next time your selflessness is praised in front of others, beware: making sacrifices for others makes it easier for them to sacrifice you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-m-wegner/so-next-time-your-selflessness-is-praised-in-front-of-others-beware/) Daniel M. Wegner > [It's always easier to sacrifice when you're not the one who has to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-spoelstra/it-s-always-easier-to-sacrifice-when-you-re-not-the-one-who-has-to-do/) [Erik Spoelstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-spoelstra/) > [“Man has always found it easier to sacrifice his life than to learn the multiplication table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-somerset-maugham/man-has-always-found-it-easier-to-sacrifice-his-life-than-to-learn/) [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) > [It is not God's way that great blessings should descend without the sacrifice first of great sufferings. If the truth is to be spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/it-is-not-god-s-way-that-great-blessings-should-descend-without-the/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [... a man can safely sacrifice a great deal as long as he clings to the essential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/a-man-can-safely-sacrifice-a-great-deal-as-long-as-he-clings-to-the/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“You have completely captured my heart. I promise to do everything in my power to make you as happy as you’ve already made me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-abel/you-have-completely-captured-my-heart-i-promise-to-do-everything-in/) [Charlotte Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-abel/) > [Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-understand-the-eternal-blessings-which-come-from-the-temple/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [We ask our men and our women to go overseas to fight for our country and sacrifice so much for this great country so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-earhardt/we-ask-our-men-and-our-women-to-go-overseas-to-fight-for-our-country/) [Ainsley Earhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-earhardt/) > [“To truly defeat an enemy, no sacrifice is too great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-morgan/to-truly-defeat-an-enemy-no-sacrifice-is-too-great/) Preston Morgan > [“Mine to you. Yours to me. Bonded by blood, by spirit and by soul, we are one. No distance too far, no enemy too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-rowe/mine-to-you-yours-to-me-bonded-by-blood-by-spirit-and-by-soul-we-are/) [Stephanie Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-rowe/) > [In order to achieve something great, you'll have to sacrifice something great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harley/in-order-to-achieve-something-great-you-ll-have-to-sacrifice/) David Harley > [Ascetics and fakirs come to mitigate human suffering; to heal us and lead us on the path. They put up with criticism; they go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ascetics-and-fakirs-come-to-mitigate-human-suffering-to-heal-us-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sacrifice: Giving up something good for something better. As I have studied great men and women from the beginning of time, the common denominator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyrum-w-smith/sacrifice-giving-up-something-good-for-something-better-as-i-have/) [Hyrum W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyrum-w-smith/) > [We've come this far sacrifice great loss, it's too late to give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/na/we-ve-come-this-far-sacrifice-great-loss-it-s-too-late-to-give-up/) NA > [Their sacrifice was great, but not in vain. All Americans and every free nation on earth can trace their liberty to the white markers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/their-sacrifice-was-great-but-not-in-vain-all-americans-and-every/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. 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I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Easier quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. 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There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. 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