--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world breaks everyone, and afterward…" description: "\"The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. Great ac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/napoleon-hill-201_achievement_the-world-breaks-everyone-and-afterward_2736679.jpg" --- # The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong… ![“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/napoleon-hill-201_achievement_the-world-breaks-everyone-and-afterward_2736679.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/napoleon-hill-201_achievement_the-world-breaks-everyone-and-afterward_2736679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/napoleon-hill-201_achievement_the-world-breaks-everyone-and-afterward_2736679.jpg) > “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.” [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adversity creates strength; small, well‑executed actions lead to achievement, not selfish ambition. **In simple terms:** Hardship builds strength; act well. Key Takeaway Act with purpose. Themes resilience achievement humility Mood motivational reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - business strategy - teamwork Key Concepts sacrifice small actions great outcomes Questions to Reflect On - How can small actions build lasting impact? - What sacrifices are worth making? A Different Perspective May ignore systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Achievement Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement-usually-2996284/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Great achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-achievement/) [Great sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-sacrifice/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Result Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/result-selfishness-2996285/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Small things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-things/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/great-achievement-is-usually-born-of-great-sacrifice-and-is-never-the/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Great achievement always requires great sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/great-achievement-always-requires-great-sacrifice/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [In a word, most bad attitudes are the result of selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/in-a-word-most-bad-attitudes-are-the-result-of-selfishness/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Every divorce is the result of selfishness on the part of one or both parties to a marriage contract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/every-divorce-is-the-result-of-selfishness-on-the-part-of-one-or-both/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Who told you it couldn't be done? And what great achievement has he to his credit that entitles him to use the word 'impossible'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/who-told-you-it-couldn-t-be-done-and-what-great-achievement-has-he-to/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [We have either to progress or to degenerate. Our ancestors did great things in the past, but we have to grow into a fuller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-have-either-to-progress-or-to-degenerate-our-ancestors-did-great/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [You can be absolutely certain that when you feel you are being most unfairly tested, you are being prepared for great achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-can-be-absolutely-certain-that-when-you-feel-you-are-being-most/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“If you can not do great things, Do small things in a great way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/if-you-can-not-do-great-things-do-small-things-in-a-great-way/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The greatest illiterate is the inability to learn the great things of life from small things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-ashimolowo/the-greatest-illiterate-is-the-inability-to-learn-the-great-things-of/) [Matthew Ashimolowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-ashimolowo/) > [There is a time for some things, and a time for all things; a time for great things, and a time for small things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-time-for-some-things-and-a-time-for-all-things-a-time-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/great-things-are-not-done-by-impulse-but-by-a-series-of-small-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only reason you do not do great things is because you timidly cling to small things. Will you let loose of small things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-only-reason-you-do-not-do-great-things-is-because-you-timidly/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [One thing will always secure heaven for us-the acts of charity and kindness with which we have filled our lives. We can do no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/one-thing-will-always-secure-heaven-for-us-the-acts-of-charity-and/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [If you can't do great things, do small things in great way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-can-t-do-great-things-do-small-things-in-great-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Doctors and lawyers must go to school for years and years, often with little sleep and with great sacrifice to their first wives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/doctors-and-lawyers-must-go-to-school-for-years-and-years-often-with/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) ## More by Napoleon Hill > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The mind requires regular use to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-requires-regular-use-to-remain-strong/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“To all these I wish to convey the thought that all achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/to-all-these-i-wish-to-convey-the-thought-that-all-achievement-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/tell-the-world-what-you-intend-to-do-but-first-show-it-this/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You become what you think about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-become-what-you-think-about/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every man's own character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of his eyes, the tone of his voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-man-s-own-character-is-written-so-all-who-will-may-read-it-in/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/life-is-a-mirror-of-your-consistent-thoughts/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/success-requires-no-explanations-failure-permits-no-alibis/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-are-no-limitations-to-the-mind-except-those-that-we-acknowledge/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) [Explore all 928 Napoleon Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) [Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/) > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) [Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/) > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. 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