--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men have no right to complain that they…" description: "\"“Men have no right to complain that they are naturally feeble and short-lived, or that it is chance and not merit that decides their destiny. . . . Wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/sallust-4191_good-thing_men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they_1028267.jpg" --- # Men have no right to complain that they are naturally… ![“Men have no right to complain that they are naturally feeble and short-lived, or that it is chance and not merit that decides their destiny. . . . What guides and controls human life is man's soul. . . . If men pursued good things with the same ardour with which they seek what is unedifying and…” quote by Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/sallust-4191_good-thing_men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they_1028267.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/sallust-4191_good-thing_men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they_1028267.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/sallust-4191_good-thing_men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they_1028267.jpg) > ““Men have no right to complain that they are naturally feeble and short-lived, or that it is chance and not merit that decides their destiny. . . . What guides and controls human life is man's soul. . . . If men pursued good things with the same ardour with which they seek what is unedifying and unprofitable--often, indeed, actually dangerous and pernicious--they would control events instead of being controlled by them, and would rise to such heights of greatness and glory that their mortality would put on immortality. As man consists of body and soul, all our possessions and pursuits partake of the nature of one or the other. Thus personal beauty and great wealth, bodily strength, and all similar things, soon pass away; the noble achievements of the intellect are immortal like the soul itself. Physical advantages, and the material gifts of fortune, begin and end; all that comes into existence, perishes; all that grows, must one day decay. But the soul, incorruptible and eternal, is the ruler of mankind; it guides and controls everything, subject itself to no control. Wherefore we can but marvel the more at the unnatural conduct of those who abandon themselves to bodily pleasures and pass their time in riotous living and idleness, neglecting their intelligence--the best and noblest element in man's nature--and letting it become dull through lack of effort; and that, too, when the mind is capable of so many different accomplishments that can win the highest distinction.”” [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human greatness depends on nurturing the soul over fleeting bodily pursuits; true immortality lies in intellectual and moral achievements. **In simple terms:** Soul over body; lasting legacy through virtue. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner virtues, not just material gains. Themes virtue immortality human nature ethics Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - personal development - leadership - public service Key Concepts philosophy spirituality legacy Questions to Reflect On - What practices strengthen the soul daily? - How can societies value intellectual achievements more? A Different Perspective Material success can still dominate societal values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begin And End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-and-end/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Lack Of Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-of-effort/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [Masonry's conception of immortality is something for which man must qualify while still in the flesh. 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Arousing from the most profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/in-death-no-even-in-the-grave-all-is-not-lost-else-there-is-no/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [The game has its ups and downs, but you can never lose focus of your individual goals and you can't let yourself be beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/the-game-has-its-ups-and-downs-but-you-can-never-lose-focus-of-your/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [“there’s something powerful about realizing that you’ve undersold yourself—that somehow your mind confused lack of effort for inability”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/there-s-something-powerful-about-realizing-that-you-ve-undersold/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [Have NO tolerance for lies, broken promises, immaturity, ignorance, or lack of effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-no-tolerance-for-lies-broken-promises-immaturity-ignorance-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Having a job is tricky. You don't want to be so productive that you make your coworkers appear like slackers, and you don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/having-a-job-is-tricky-you-don-t-want-to-be-so-productive-that-you/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Give 100% in everything that you do and you will never fail from lack of effort...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ancona/give-100-in-everything-that-you-do-and-you-will-never-fail-from-lack/) John Ancona > [“Real life doesn’t come beautifully wrapped with a bow on top. Most events usually look more like a three-year-old’s attempt to wrap Mommy’s gift.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/real-life-doesn-t-come-beautifully-wrapped-with-a-bow-on-top-most/) [Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/) > [Here's a memonic device that I feel teaches how we can properly cope with failure. Forget about your failures; don't dwell on past mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/here-s-a-memonic-device-that-i-feel-teaches-how-we-can-properly-cope/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I joined Sunderland, a great club, to be successful, to feel at home again. It hasn't worked out, but that's not through lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-rodwell/i-joined-sunderland-a-great-club-to-be-successful-to-feel-at-home/) [Jack Rodwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-rodwell/) > [I think about Milan from morning to night, and there is certainly no lack of effort and desire on my part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-seedorf/i-think-about-milan-from-morning-to-night-and-there-is-certainly-no/) [Clarence Seedorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-seedorf/) ## More by Sallust > [It is impossible that there should be so much providence in the last details, and none in the first principles. Then the arts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-impossible-that-there-should-be-so-much-providence-in-the-last/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/as-the-blessings-of-health-and-fortune-have-a-beginning-so-they-must/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/everything-that-rises-sets-and-everything-that-grows-grows-old/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/fame-is-the-shadow-of-passion-standing-in-the-light/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The Romans assisted their allies and friends, and acquired friendships by giving rather than receiving kindness. \[Lat., Sociis atque amicis auxilia portabant Romani, magisque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-romans-assisted-their-allies-and-friends-and-acquired-friendships/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-prefers-to-suffer-rather-than-overcome-injustice-with-evil/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [It is not unlikely, too, that the rejection of God is a kind of punishment: we may well believe that those who knew the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-unlikely-too-that-the-rejection-of-god-is-a-kind-of/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-only-spirits-who-punish-the-evil-the-soul-brings-itself-to/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [To hope for safety in flight, when you have turned away from the enemy the arms by which the body is defended, is indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/to-hope-for-safety-in-flight-when-you-have-turned-away-from-the-enemy/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By the wicked the good conduct of others is always dreaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-the-wicked-the-good-conduct-of-others-is-always-dreaded/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-union-the-smallest-states-thrive-by-discord-the-greatest-are/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/ambition-drove-many-men-to-become-false-to-have-one-thought-locked-in/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-soul-is-the-captain-and-ruler-of-the-life-of-morals/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Not by vows nor by womanish prayers is the help of the gods obtained; success comes through vigilance, energy, wise counsel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/not-by-vows-nor-by-womanish-prayers-is-the-help-of-the-gods-obtained/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [ Enough words, little wisdom. \[Lat., Satis eloquentiae sapientiae parum.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/enough-words-little-wisdom-lat-satis-eloquentiae-sapientiae-parum/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) [Explore all 115 Sallust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## More Good thing quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/here-are-the-good-things-about-independent-films-they-do-the-more/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [“I took that warm feeling running through my veins as a good thing and embraced the darkness for I knew it was only temporary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/i-took-that-warm-feeling-running-through-my-veins-as-a-good-thing-and/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [If good things come to those who wait then I must have something ridiculously awesome coming!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-then-i-must-have-something/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [IVE LEARNED THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO HAVE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU , ALL THE TIME, IS TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/ive-learned-the-best-way-for-you-to-have-good-things-happen-to-you/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [Too many good things all seem the same after a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/too-many-good-things-all-seem-the-same-after-a-while/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) Browse all 6,343 Good thing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Men have no right to complain that they are naturally feeble and short-lived, or that it is chance and not merit that decides their destiny. . . . What guides and controls human life is man's soul. . . . If men pursued good things with the same ardour with which they seek what is unedifying and unprofitable--often, indeed, actually dangerous and pernicious--they would control events instead of being controlled by them, and would rise to such heights of greatness and glory that their mortality would put on immortality. As man consists of body and soul, all our possessions and pursuits partake of the nature of one or the other. Thus personal beauty and great wealth, bodily strength, and all similar things, soon pass away; the noble achievements of the intellect are immortal like the soul itself. Physical advantages, and the material gifts of fortune, begin and end; all that comes into existence, perishes; all that grows, must one day decay. But the soul, incorruptible and eternal, is the ruler of mankind; it guides and controls everything, subject itself to no control. Wherefore we can but marvel the more at the unnatural conduct of those who abandon themselves to bodily pleasures and pass their time in riotous living and idleness, neglecting their intelligence--the best and noblest element in man's nature--and letting it become dull through lack of effort; and that, too, when the mind is capable of so many different accomplishments that can win the highest distinction.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sallust" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they-are-naturally-feeble-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good thing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they-are-naturally-feeble-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/sallust-4191_good-thing_men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they_1028267.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/sallust-4191_good-thing_men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they_1028267.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/sallust-4191_good-thing_men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they_1028267.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men have no right to complain that they are naturally feeble and short-lived, or that it is chance and not…” — Sallust", "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": "Sallust", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Men have no right to complain...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they-are-naturally-feeble-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/men-have-no-right-to-complain-that-they-are-naturally-feeble-and/#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 } } ] } ```