--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you cannot be great, be willing to…" description: "\"If you cannot be great, be willing to serve God in that which is small. If you cannot do great things for Him, cheerfully do little ones. If you cannot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/samuel-francis-smith-60500_altars_if-you-cannot-be-great-be-willing-to-ser_2214261.png" --- # If you cannot be great, be willing to serve God in that… ![“If you cannot be great, be willing to serve God in that which is small. If you cannot do great things for Him, cheerfully do little ones. If you cannot be an Aaron to serve at the altar, or a Moses to guide the tribes, consent to be "a little maid" to Xaaman the Syrian, for the honor of God's…” quote by Samuel Francis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/samuel-francis-smith-60500_altars_if-you-cannot-be-great-be-willing-to-ser_2214261.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/samuel-francis-smith-60500_altars_if-you-cannot-be-great-be-willing-to-ser_2214261.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/samuel-francis-smith-60500_altars_if-you-cannot-be-great-be-willing-to-ser_2214261.png) > “If you cannot be great, be willing to serve God in that which is small. If you cannot do great things for Him, cheerfully do little ones. If you cannot be an Aaron to serve at the altar, or a Moses to guide the tribes, consent to be "a little maid" to Xaaman the Syrian, for the honor of God's prophets, or a little child, for Christ's sake, to be set by Him in the midst of the people, as an illustration of the sweetness of humility.” [Samuel Francis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-francis-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If greatness is unattainable, serve God faithfully in modest tasks, embracing humility as a divine virtue. **In simple terms:** Serve God in small ways when you cannot be great. Key Takeaway Find purpose in humble service. Themes humility service faith purpose spiritual growth Mood reverent inspirational hopeful Type religious motivational philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - daily chores - community support - personal prayer Key Concepts theology moral philosophy devotion self‑effacement Questions to Reflect On - What small acts can reflect great love? - How does humility enhance spiritual life? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of striving for excellence alongside humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altars/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) [God Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-small-401265/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Guides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guides/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honor God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-god/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Illustration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illustration/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Maids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maids/) [Midst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midst/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moses/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve/) [Serve God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve-god/) [Serving god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serving-god/) [Sweetness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweetness/) [Tribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribes/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willing Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-serve-839761/) ## Related quotes > [I am willing to serve my country, but my worship I reserve for Right which is far greater than my country. To worship my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/i-am-willing-to-serve-my-country-but-my-worship-i-reserve-for-right/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [There is a difference between offering a service and being willing to serve. They may both include giving but only one is generous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/there-is-a-difference-between-offering-a-service-and-being-willing-to/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Life is very short; be willing to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/life-is-very-short-be-willing-to-serve/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [I have nothing against interviews. I don't pursue them. When people I work for deem it appropriate, I'm perfectly willing to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-have-nothing-against-interviews-i-don-t-pursue-them-when-people-i/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [I am as willing to serve now as in the beginning in any capacity and at any post where I can do good. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-am-as-willing-to-serve-now-as-in-the-beginning-in-any-capacity-and/) [Robert E. 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You can join them if you’re willing to serve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/the-greatest-people-in-history-were-those-who-lived-a-life-of/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [Never, in the history of the world, has there been such abundant opportunity as there is now for the person who is willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/never-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-there-been-such-abundant/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [If we're going to be authentic in our leadership, we will have to be willing to serve, and we have to be willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-kouzes/if-we-re-going-to-be-authentic-in-our-leadership-we-will-have-to-be/) [James M. 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The moment we have given it to God, it becomes infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/to-god-there-is-nothing-small-the-moment-we-have-given-it-to-god-it/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Blame is for God and small children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/blame-is-for-god-and-small-children/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half to death, then you haven't really come to life. 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