--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What makes greatness is starting…" description: "\"What makes greatness is starting something that lives after you.\" — Ralph Washington Sockman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/ralph-washington-sockman-21059_accomplishment_what-makes-greatness-is-starting-somethi_2113717.jpg" --- # What makes greatness is starting something that lives… ![“What makes greatness is starting something that lives after you.” quote by Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/ralph-washington-sockman-21059_accomplishment_what-makes-greatness-is-starting-somethi_2113717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/ralph-washington-sockman-21059_accomplishment_what-makes-greatness-is-starting-somethi_2113717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/ralph-washington-sockman-21059_accomplishment_what-makes-greatness-is-starting-somethi_2113717.jpg) > “What makes greatness is starting something that lives after you.” [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness comes from creating lasting works that outlive the creator, giving purpose beyond personal lifespan. **In simple terms:** Creating lasting impact defines greatness. Key Takeaway Focus on lasting contributions. Themes legacy purpose creation Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - building a business - writing a book - teaching - community service Key Concepts immortality selflessness meaning Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you want to leave? - How can you start a lasting project today? A Different Perspective Sustaining impact requires ongoing effort and adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [No, the thing that makes for greatness is determination, persisting in the right direction over the long haul, following your dream, staying at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/no-the-thing-that-makes-for-greatness-is-determination-persisting-in/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I'm all about spontaneity. I think it makes for greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-kostek/i-m-all-about-spontaneity-i-think-it-makes-for-greatness/) [Camille Kostek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-kostek/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) Anthony Sargent > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) ## More by Ralph Washington Sockman > [Hoist the sails of your own spirit to catch the winds of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/hoist-the-sails-of-your-own-spirit-to-catch-the-winds-of-god/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [The hope of free people in a frightened world is the values which people put ahead of inventions when their backs are to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/the-hope-of-free-people-in-a-frightened-world-is-the-values-which/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [Give the best you have to the highest you know... and do it now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/give-the-best-you-have-to-the-highest-you-know-and-do-it-now/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [When we count on chance in lieu of law and labor, we weaken our healthy attitudes toward work, our fellow men and our God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/when-we-count-on-chance-in-lieu-of-law-and-labor-we-weaken-our/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [Our love for God is tested by the question of whether we seek Him or His gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/our-love-for-god-is-tested-by-the-question-of-whether-we-seek-him-or/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [All our science and philosophy form only an island of knowledge surrounded by an ocean of mystery. The larger the island grows, the longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/all-our-science-and-philosophy-form-only-an-island-of-knowledge/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [As long as we can keep our international relations in the realm of conference rather than open conflict, we are giving truth more time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/as-long-as-we-can-keep-our-international-relations-in-the-realm-of/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [The roots of responsibility run out to the ends of the earth and we can no more isolate our consciences from world issues than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/the-roots-of-responsibility-run-out-to-the-ends-of-the-earth-and-we/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [Our ground of hope is that God does not weary of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/our-ground-of-hope-is-that-god-does-not-weary-of-mankind/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/the-hinge-of-history-is-on-the-door-of-a-bethlehem-stable/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [The test of our religion is whether it fits us to meet emergencies. A man has no more character than he can command in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/the-test-of-our-religion-is-whether-it-fits-us-to-meet-emergencies-a/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [True liberty consists not merely in being free from something, but also in being free for something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/true-liberty-consists-not-merely-in-being-free-from-something-but/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [Habit must play a larger place in our religious life. We worship when we feel like it, we pray when we feel like it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/habit-must-play-a-larger-place-in-our-religious-life-we-worship-when/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [Advertising enriches life by quickening the imagination, arousing interest and enlarging the taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/advertising-enriches-life-by-quickening-the-imagination-arousing/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [True humility is intelligent self-respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves. It makes us mindful of the nobility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/true-humility-is-intelligent-self-respect-which-keeps-us-from-2/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) [Explore all 30 Ralph Washington Sockman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) Anthony Sargent > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What makes greatness is starting something that lives after you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Washington Sockman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/what-makes-greatness-is-starting-something-that-lives-after-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/what-makes-greatness-is-starting-something-that-lives-after-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/ralph-washington-sockman-21059_accomplishment_what-makes-greatness-is-starting-somethi_2113717.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/ralph-washington-sockman-21059_accomplishment_what-makes-greatness-is-starting-somethi_2113717.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/ralph-washington-sockman-21059_accomplishment_what-makes-greatness-is-starting-somethi_2113717.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What makes greatness is starting something that lives after you.” — Ralph Washington Sockman", "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": "Ralph Washington Sockman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What makes greatness is starting something...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/what-makes-greatness-is-starting-something-that-lives-after-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/what-makes-greatness-is-starting-something-that-lives-after-you/#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 } } ] } ```