--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In general I strive for greatness and…" description: "\"“In general I strive for greatness and rational achievement, but I admit to you I’ve a terrible fondness for women, a tendency towards drunkenness, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/roman-payne-1959_drugs_in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-ra_1862617.jpg" --- # In general I strive for greatness and rational… ![“In general I strive for greatness and rational achievement, but I admit to you I’ve a terrible fondness for women, a tendency towards drunkenness, and a weakness for the fumes of the poppy—opium and other miserable beauties.” quote by Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/roman-payne-1959_drugs_in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-ra_1862617.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/roman-payne-1959_drugs_in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-ra_1862617.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/roman-payne-1959_drugs_in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-ra_1862617.jpg) > ““In general I strive for greatness and rational achievement, but I admit to you I’ve a terrible fondness for women, a tendency towards drunkenness, and a weakness for the fumes of the poppy—opium and other miserable beauties.”” [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker confesses a mix of lofty aspirations and self‑destructive vices. **In simple terms:** Great goals coexist with personal flaws. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with self‑control. Themes ambition viceices humanity Mood introspective candid Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal reflection - addiction counseling Key Concepts self‑destruction desire contradiction Questions to Reflect On - What vices hinder your own goals? - Can you channel desire into positive outcomes? A Different Perspective The vices may undermine the pursuit of greatness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs/) [Fondness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fondness/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Heroin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroin/) [Opium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opium/) [Roman-payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roman-payne/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Strive For Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive-for-greatness/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [The-wanderess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-wanderess/) [Vice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vice/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [“The tragedy of Dionysus: Wear a black robe at night, and white you’ll wear by morning; but wear a purple robe to the midnight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/the-tragedy-of-dionysus-wear-a-black-robe-at-night-and-white-you-ll/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“Oh you dear companions Electric bells of the stations song of the reapers Butcher's sleigh regiment of unnumbered streets Cavalry of bridges nights livid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-albert-birot/oh-you-dear-companions-electric-bells-of-the-stations-song-of-the/) [Pierre Albert-Birot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-albert-birot/) > [“Therapy to life: Eat with the wise, and drink with the fools!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/therapy-to-life-eat-with-the-wise-and-drink-with-the-fools/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [ “Lady Veronica was not an unknown hazard. She was a charming woman \[..\] and very delightful when she was, as they put it herself… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/lady-veronica-was-not-an-unknown-hazard-she-was-a-charming-woman-and/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“I was sprawled out in my usual position on the couch, half asleep but entirely drunk, torturing myself by tearing memories out of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-was-sprawled-out-in-my-usual-position-on-the-couch-half-asleep-but/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“I asked him what he said, for there was such a mish-mash of Conversation around us that I could scarcely understand him - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-asked-him-what-he-said-for-there-was-such-a-mish-mash-of/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“At least if I was picking guys up in fits of drunken idiocy, they were not only handsome, but also even mildly clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-murphy/at-least-if-i-was-picking-guys-up-in-fits-of-drunken-idiocy-they-were/) [C.E. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-murphy/) > [We strive for greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-biles/we-strive-for-greatness/) [Simone Biles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-biles/) > [We are all far from perfect, nor should we pretend to be! We have made mistakes and we have allowed others to be mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raina-spencer/we-are-all-far-from-perfect-nor-should-we-pretend-to-be-we-have-made/) Raina Spencer > [“❤I shall no longer fear what's on the roads ahead of me...nor shall I be in despair about what I left behind. I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/i-shall-no-longer-fear-what-s-on-the-roads-ahead-of-me-nor-shall-i-be/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [Aspire for progress, hunger for success, and strive for greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inknonw/aspire-for-progress-hunger-for-success-and-strive-for-greatness/) Inknonw > [I think it's important, no matter your profession, to never become complacent and always strive for greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/i-think-it-s-important-no-matter-your-profession-to-never-become/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [“Great men don't strive for greatness, they simply do great works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/great-men-don-t-strive-for-greatness-they-simply-do-great-works/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [Being named Michael Jordan - I think growing up playing sports and having a name like Michael Jordan - and I was extremely competitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/being-named-michael-jordan-i-think-growing-up-playing-sports-and/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [The greatest lesson I've learned is that you have to fight and continue to strive for greatness, as nothing great ever comes easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/the-greatest-lesson-i-ve-learned-is-that-you-have-to-fight-and/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) ## More by Roman Payne > [“She is my morning, she is my evening; we have a love that blooms over and again, more beautifully each time than the last.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/she-is-my-morning-she-is-my-evening-we-have-a-love-that-blooms-over/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“Ô, Wanderess, Wanderess When did you feel your most euphoric kiss? Was I the source of your greatest bliss?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/wanderess-wanderess-when-did-you-feel-your-most-euphoric-kiss-was-i/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“No man sings as beautifully as when his song is accompanied by a woman’s voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/no-man-sings-as-beautifully-as-when-his-song-is-accompanied-by-a/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“As I look back on my life, I think of how few rules should be followed. As for men, they must learn bravery and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/as-i-look-back-on-my-life-i-think-of-how-few-rules-should-be-followed/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“The green-eyed angel came in less than a half hour and fell docile as a lamb into my arms. We kissed and caressed, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/the-green-eyed-angel-came-in-less-than-a-half-hour-and-fell-docile-as/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“When a Wanderess has been caged, Or perched with her wings clipped, She lives like a Stoic, and lives most heroic, When she smiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/when-a-wanderess-has-been-caged-or-perched-with-her-wings-clipped-she/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“Never did the world make a queen of a girl who hides in houses and dreams without traveling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/never-did-the-world-make-a-queen-of-a-girl-who-hides-in-houses-and/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“Champagne arrived in flûtes on trays, and we emptied them with gladness in our hearts... for when feasts are laid and classical music is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/champagne-arrived-in-fl-tes-on-trays-and-we-emptied-them-with/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“We look up to see if it is day or night. If stars burn cool and moon does shine, we take to smoke divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/we-look-up-to-see-if-it-is-day-or-night-if-stars-burn-cool-and-moon/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“We were hooked when we woke. We had arms for each other. But I yearned to resume My dreams of another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/we-were-hooked-when-we-woke-we-had-arms-for-each-other-but-i-yearned/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“We made love outdoors Without a roof, I like most, Without stove, to make love, assuming the weather be fair and balmy, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/we-made-love-outdoors-without-a-roof-i-like-most-without-stove-to/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“I was angry at myself for my inclination to vice. I longed for the day when a state of frenzy would lead my mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/i-was-angry-at-myself-for-my-inclination-to-vice-i-longed-for-the-day/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“In my experience, when a woman's cruelty is combined with love and devotion, it is almost always without exception an act performed not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/in-my-experience-when-a-woman-s-cruelty-is-combined-with-love-and/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“With the need for the self in the time of another / I left my seaport grim and dear / knowing good work could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/with-the-need-for-the-self-in-the-time-of-another-i-left-my-seaport/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“Coffee, my delight of the morning; yoga, my delight of the noon. Then before nightfall, I run along the pleasant paths of the Jardin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/coffee-my-delight-of-the-morning-yoga-my-delight-of-the-noon-then/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) [Explore all 192 Roman Payne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) ## More Drugs quotes > [You find out so many interesting things when you're not on drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/you-find-out-so-many-interesting-things-when-you-re-not-on-drugs/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [Who said we take drugs? we're just lacking fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-chatto/who-said-we-take-drugs-we-re-just-lacking-fate/) [Cath Chatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-chatto/) > [We have drugs to make women speak, but none to keep them silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/we-have-drugs-to-make-women-speak-but-none-to-keep-them-silent/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [not all drugs are good.. some of them are great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/not-all-drugs-are-good-some-of-them-are-great/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [A pill to make you numb, a pill to you make you dumb, a pill to make you anybody else, but all the drugs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/a-pill-to-make-you-numb-a-pill-to-you-make-you-dumb-a-pill-to-make/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [“People aren't crazy, they’re just reacting normally to an abnormally crazy world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-b-morse/people-aren-t-crazy-they-re-just-reacting-normally-to-an-abnormally/) [J.S.B. Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-b-morse/) > [Raves when it was safe to be free & wave your hands in the air, like you didn't even care! Not scared to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/progrezza/raves-when-it-was-safe-to-be-free-wave-your-hands-in-the-air-like-you/) [Progrezza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/progrezza/) > [Rock n roll is about drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/rock-n-roll-is-about-drugs/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [If you don't think drugs have done good things for us, then take all of your records, tapes and CD's and burn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/if-you-don-t-think-drugs-have-done-good-things-for-us-then-take-all/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I don't like drug, but drug like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammar-farini/i-don-t-like-drug-but-drug-like-me/) Ammar Farini > [“If Barack Obama had come up in a time when the drug war was being waged as intensely as it is now, we probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/if-barack-obama-had-come-up-in-a-time-when-the-drug-war-was-being/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [“Whenever the wife wants to do drugs, she thinks about Sartre. One bad trip and then a giant lobster followed him around for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-offill/whenever-the-wife-wants-to-do-drugs-she-thinks-about-sartre-one-bad/) [Jenny Offill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-offill/) > [“The W. M. Keck Observatory is the only employer that has surprised me during my employment with urine tests for illegal drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-w-m-keck-observatory-is-the-only-employer-that-has-surprised-me/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I think religion is bad and drugs are good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-think-religion-is-bad-and-drugs-are-good/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [You're my drugs because you help me see the beauty of life upside down and you help me escape the ugliness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-my-drugs-because-you-help-me-see-the-beauty-of-life-upside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,085 Drugs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In general I strive for greatness and rational achievement, but I admit to you I’ve a terrible fondness for women, a tendency towards drunkenness, and a weakness for the fumes of the poppy—opium and other miserable beauties.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roman Payne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-rational-achievement-but-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drugs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-rational-achievement-but-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/roman-payne-1959_drugs_in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-ra_1862617.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/roman-payne-1959_drugs_in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-ra_1862617.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/roman-payne-1959_drugs_in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-ra_1862617.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In general I strive for greatness and rational achievement, but I admit to you I’ve a terrible fondness for…” — Roman Payne", "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": "Roman Payne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In general I strive for greatness...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-rational-achievement-but-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/in-general-i-strive-for-greatness-and-rational-achievement-but-i/#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 } } ] } ```