--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man is a little thing while he works by…" description: "\"A man is a little thing while he works by and for himself; but when he gives voice to the rules of love and justice, he is godlike…\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_godlike_a-man-is-a-little-thing-while-he-works-b_2717554.png" --- # A man is a little thing while he works by and for himself… ![“A man is a little thing while he works by and for himself; but when he gives voice to the rules of love and justice, he is godlike…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_godlike_a-man-is-a-little-thing-while-he-works-b_2717554.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_godlike_a-man-is-a-little-thing-while-he-works-b_2717554.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_godlike_a-man-is-a-little-thing-while-he-works-b_2717554.png) > “A man is a little thing while he works by and for himself; but when he gives voice to the rules of love and justice, he is godlike…” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a man speaks love and justice, he attains a godlike stature despite his modest work. **In simple terms:** Speaking love and justice elevates a humble worker. Key Takeaway Cultivate love and justice in daily actions. Themes ethics humility spirituality justice self‑improvement Mood inspirational philosophical Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - workplace conduct - community service - activism - personal development - public speaking Key Concepts transcendence moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can ordinary people embody love and justice? - What limits exist for achieving godlike influence? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Godlike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godlike/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [A man is a little thing whilst he works by and for himself, but, when he gives voice to the rules of love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-a-little-thing-whilst-he-works-by-and-for-himself-but-when/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [And truly it demands something godlike in him who cast off the common motives of humanity and ventured to trust himself for a taskmaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/and-truly-it-demands-something-godlike-in-him-who-cast-off-the-common/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of our science, and such is the mechanical determination of our age, and so recent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/men-love-to-wonder-and-that-is-the-seed-of-our-science-and-such-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nothing is enough to the man for whom enough is too little..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/nothing-is-enough-to-the-man-for-whom-enough-is-too-little/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Do not give little man big power and do not give big man little power!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-give-little-man-big-power-and-do-not-give-big-man-little-power/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I am a little man and this is a little town, but there must be a spark in little men that can burst into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-a-little-man-and-this-is-a-little-town-but-there-must-be-a-spark/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [What is man but a little soul holding up a corpse?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-lowry/what-is-man-but-a-little-soul-holding-up-a-corpse/) [Malcolm Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-lowry/) > [The man without a savings account usually is a man of little account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/the-man-without-a-savings-account-usually-is-a-man-of-little-account/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I set out to try to help my fellow man and to do what little I could to make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/i-set-out-to-try-to-help-my-fellow-man-and-to-do-what-little-i-could/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [A man is a little soul carrying around a courpse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-is-a-little-soul-carrying-around-a-courpse/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [There is no man, though never so little, but sometimes he can hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/there-is-no-man-though-never-so-little-but-sometimes-he-can-hurt/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I became a man. Before that I was a little boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-became-a-man-before-that-i-was-a-little-boy/) Adam Ant > [The way to be a man if you're a little boy is to be willing to throw your weight around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-ireland/the-way-to-be-a-man-if-you-re-a-little-boy-is-to-be-willing-to-throw/) [Patricia Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-ireland/) > [Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is to little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-is-enough-for-the-man-to-whom-enough-is-to-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A man who has little personality has but little influence for good or otherwise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-t-croonborg/a-man-who-has-little-personality-has-but-little-influence-for-good-or/) Frederick T. Croonborg ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Godlike quotes > [Being an artist is a totally godlike thing to do - and I have a god complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/being-an-artist-is-a-totally-godlike-thing-to-do-and-i-have-a-god/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [The faculty of self-help is that which distinguished man from animals; that it is the Godlike element, or holds within itself the Godlike element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/the-faculty-of-self-help-is-that-which-distinguished-man-from-animals/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [The mystery of a person, indeed, is ever divine to him that has a sense for the godlike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-mystery-of-a-person-indeed-is-ever-divine-to-him-that-has-a-sense/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [We fear our highest possibilities. We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments, under conditions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/we-fear-our-highest-possibilities-we-are-generally-afraid-to-become/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [O blessed bounty, giving ail content! The only fautress of all noble arts That lend'st success to every good intent. A grace that rests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/o-blessed-bounty-giving-ail-content-the-only-fautress-of-all-noble/) [Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/) > [Only let us love God, and then nature will compass us about like a cloud of Divine witnesses; and all influences from the earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mountford/only-let-us-love-god-and-then-nature-will-compass-us-about-like-a/) [William Mountford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mountford/) > [There are two avenues from the little passions and the drear calamities of earth; both lead to the heaven and away from hell-Art and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/there-are-two-avenues-from-the-little-passions-and-the-drear/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Remember that there is nothing in God but what is godlike; and that He is either not at all, or truly and perfectly good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/remember-that-there-is-nothing-in-god-but-what-is-godlike-and-that-he/) [Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/) > [It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/it-is-the-privilege-of-the-gods-to-want-nothing-and-of-godlike-men-to/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [We become Godlike to the extent we realize nonviolence, but we can never become wholly God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/we-become-godlike-to-the-extent-we-realize-nonviolence-but-we-can/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [When the gods were more manlike, Men were more godlike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/when-the-gods-were-more-manlike-men-were-more-godlike/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [The will is free; Strong is the soul, and wise, and beautiful; The seeds of godlike power are in us still; Gods are we,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/the-will-is-free-strong-is-the-soul-and-wise-and-beautiful-the-seeds/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [We must be careful, as we seek to become more and more godlike, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/we-must-be-careful-as-we-seek-to-become-more-and-more-godlike-that-we/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [In this world there is one godlike thing, the essence of all that was or ever will be of godlike in this world: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/in-this-world-there-is-one-godlike-thing-the-essence-of-all-that-was/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) [Browse all 137 Godlike quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godlike/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man is a little thing while he works by and for himself; 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