--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He is greatest who is most often in men's…" description: "\"He is greatest who is most often in men's good thoughts.\" — Samuel Butler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/samuel-butler-823_good-thoughts_he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men_2111716.jpg" --- # He is greatest who is most often in men's good thoughts. ![“He is greatest who is most often in men's good thoughts.” quote by Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/samuel-butler-823_good-thoughts_he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men_2111716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/samuel-butler-823_good-thoughts_he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men_2111716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/samuel-butler-823_good-thoughts_he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men_2111716.jpg) > “He is greatest who is most often in men's good thoughts.” [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being remembered positively by many is the highest achievement. **In simple terms:** Popularity equals greatness. Key Takeaway Cultivate goodwill and reputation. Themes reputation legacy thought Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - community service - writing Key Concepts ethics social influence Questions to Reflect On - How to balance self‑esteem with public perception? - What actions build lasting respect? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on others’ opinions can be limiting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thoughts/) [Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) [Greatest Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-men/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-good/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) ## Related quotes > [Are not our greatest men as good as lost? The men that walk daily among us, warming us, feeding us, walk shrouded in darkness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/are-not-our-greatest-men-as-good-as-lost-the-men-that-walk-daily/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“the greatest men that ever live pass away unknown. they put forth no claims for themselves, establish no schools of systems in their name.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-greatest-men-that-ever-live-pass-away-unknown-they-put-forth-no/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [He was not the greatest of men but he was the greatest of kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/he-was-not-the-greatest-of-men-but-he-was-the-greatest-of-kings/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The greatest Men and Women are those who surrendered themselves to their higher Being; embraced their highest call; let go of their own needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ces-peta/the-greatest-men-and-women-are-those-who-surrendered-themselves-to/) [Ces Peta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ces-peta/) > [All men are good when free from passion, interest, or error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenio-maria-de-hostos/all-men-are-good-when-free-from-passion-interest-or-error/) [Eugenio Maria de Hostos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenio-maria-de-hostos/) > [Good thoughts not delivered mean squat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/good-thoughts-not-delivered-mean-squat/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [When you find yourself thinking negatively, stop yourself abruptly and think of things in your life that you have to be thankful for. Inculcate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/when-you-find-yourself-thinking-negatively-stop-yourself-abruptly-and/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [When I think good thoughts, I feel that man is not, after all, so bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/when-i-think-good-thoughts-i-feel-that-man-is-not-after-all-so-bad/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/john-paul-ii-was-one-of-the-greatest-men-of-the-last-century-perhaps/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [“It is unfortunate for us, that, of some of the greatest men, we know least, and talk most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/it-is-unfortunate-for-us-that-of-some-of-the-greatest-men-we-know/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [It is with men as with other things. The mullein needs only a year, but the oak a century, and the greatest men are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-is-with-men-as-with-other-things-the-mullein-needs-only-a-year-but/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [All the greatest men are maniacs. They are possessed by a mania which drives them forward towards thier goal. The great scientists, the philosophers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/all-the-greatest-men-are-maniacs-they-are-possessed-by-a-mania-which/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [Through books we converse with the wisest and the greatest men of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/through-books-we-converse-with-the-wisest-and-the-greatest-men-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many of the greatest men have owed their success to industry rather than to cleverness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/many-of-the-greatest-men-have-owed-their-success-to-industry-rather/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## More by Samuel Butler > [Is life worth living? This is a question for an embryo not for a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/is-life-worth-living-this-is-a-question-for-an-embryo-not-for-a-man/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [I am the enfant terrible of literature and science. If I cannot, and I know I cannot, get the literary and scientific bigwigs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/i-am-the-enfant-terrible-of-literature-and-science-if-i-cannot-and-i/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-you-follow-reason-far-enough-it-always-leads-to-conclusions-that/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [All animals, except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/all-animals-except-man-know-that-the-principal-business-of-life-is-to/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [The advantage of doing one's praising for oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/the-advantage-of-doing-one-s-praising-for-oneself-is-that-one-can-lay/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Spare the rod and spoil the child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Opinions have vested interests just as men have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/opinions-have-vested-interests-just-as-men-have/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“we must judge men not so much by what they, as by what they make us feel that they have it in them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/we-must-judge-men-not-so-much-by-what-they-as-by-what-they-make-us/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [If I die prematurely I shall be saved from being bored to death at my own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-i-die-prematurely-i-shall-be-saved-from-being-bored-to-death-at-my/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Vaccination is the medical sacrament corresponding to baptism. Whether it is or is not more efficacious I do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/vaccination-is-the-medical-sacrament-corresponding-to-baptism-whether/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“Having, then, once introduced an element of inconsistency into his system, he was far too consistent not to be inconsistent consistently, and he lapsed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/having-then-once-introduced-an-element-of-inconsistency-into-his/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Brigands demand your money or your life; women require both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/brigands-demand-your-money-or-your-life-women-require-both/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-who-lets-himself-be-bored-is-even-more-contemptible-than-the/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [It is not sufficiently considered in the hour of exultation, that all human excellence is comparative; that no man performs much but in proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/it-is-not-sufficiently-considered-in-the-hour-of-exultation-that-all/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“The oldest books are still only just out to those who have not read them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/the-oldest-books-are-still-only-just-out-to-those-who-have-not-read/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) [Explore all 355 Samuel Butler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) ## More Good thoughts quotes > [Do not be satisfied with the speech of your lips and the thought in your heart, all the promises and good sayings in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/do-not-be-satisfied-with-the-speech-of-your-lips-and-the-thought-in/) [Menachem Mendel of Kotzk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/) > [Good thoughts not delivered mean squat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/good-thoughts-not-delivered-mean-squat/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [“Good thoughts can become reality with Cosmic Ordering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/good-thoughts-can-become-reality-with-cosmic-ordering/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [French wines may be said but to pickle meat in the stomach, but this is the wine that digests, and doth not only breed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/french-wines-may-be-said-but-to-pickle-meat-in-the-stomach-but-this/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [Well, the world has a million writers. One would think, then, that good thought would be as familiar as air and water, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/well-the-world-has-a-million-writers-one-would-think-then-that-good/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“You should be as careful about what you put into your mind as about what you put into your mouth. Your mind is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/you-should-be-as-careful-about-what-you-put-into-your-mind-as-about/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [When I think good thoughts, I feel that man is not, after all, so bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/when-i-think-good-thoughts-i-feel-that-man-is-not-after-all-so-bad/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Power to do good is the true and lawful act of aspiring; for good thoughts (though God accept them), yet towards men are little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/power-to-do-good-is-the-true-and-lawful-act-of-aspiring-for-good/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [A good thought is indeed a great boon, for which God is to be first thanked; next he who is the first to utter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/a-good-thought-is-indeed-a-great-boon-for-which-god-is-to-be-first/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [“As we have seen, prayer, celebration of the religious offices, alms, consoling the afflicted, the cultivation of a little piece of ground, fraternity, frugality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/as-we-have-seen-prayer-celebration-of-the-religious-offices-alms/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [When you find yourself thinking negatively, stop yourself abruptly and think of things in your life that you have to be thankful for. Inculcate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/when-you-find-yourself-thinking-negatively-stop-yourself-abruptly-and/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Jane: Mr. Rochester, if ever I did a good deed in my life-if ever I thought a good thought-if ever I prayed a sincere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/jane-mr-rochester-if-ever-i-did-a-good-deed-in-my-life-if-ever-i/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Think of a new day and think of a new purpose. Think of a new reason out of the reasons of yesterday. Think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/think-of-a-new-day-and-think-of-a-new-purpose-think-of-a-new-reason/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [Only what is thought, said, or done at a certain rare coincidence is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/only-what-is-thought-said-or-done-at-a-certain-rare-coincidence-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What good are thoughts and emotions-in fact all of our experiences-if not to increase our realization?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/what-good-are-thoughts-and-emotions-in-fact-all-of-our-experiences-if/) [Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/) [Browse all 179 Good thoughts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thoughts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He is greatest who is most often in men's good thoughts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Butler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men-s-good-thoughts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good thoughts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men-s-good-thoughts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/samuel-butler-823_good-thoughts_he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men_2111716.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/samuel-butler-823_good-thoughts_he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men_2111716.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cf/samuel-butler-823_good-thoughts_he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men_2111716.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He is greatest who is most often in men's good thoughts.” — Samuel Butler", "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": "Samuel Butler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He is greatest who is most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men-s-good-thoughts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/he-is-greatest-who-is-most-often-in-men-s-good-thoughts/#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 } } ] } ```