--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot fiddle, but I can make a great…" description: "\"I cannot fiddle, but I can make a great state from a little city.\" — Themistocles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/themistocles-48826_arabia_i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-s_2687567.jpg" --- # I cannot fiddle, but I can make a great state from a… ![“I cannot fiddle, but I can make a great state from a little city.” quote by Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/themistocles-48826_arabia_i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-s_2687567.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/themistocles-48826_arabia_i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-s_2687567.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/themistocles-48826_arabia_i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-s_2687567.jpg) > “I cannot fiddle, but I can make a great state from a little city.” [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even without skill, one can build a powerful entity from modest beginnings through vision and organization. **In simple terms:** Small origins can become great states. Key Takeaway Leverage resources and leadership. Themes leadership statecraft vision Mood strategic optimistic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - city planning - nation building - strategic growth Key Concepts political science history Questions to Reflect On - How do you compensate for lack of skill? - What resources can amplify small beginnings? A Different Perspective Skill gaps can hinder progress without expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabia/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Fiddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiddle/) [Great State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-state-477533/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Little City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-city-2236722/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [State Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-little-2203628/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [In a free country there is much clamor, with little suffering; in a despotic state there is little complaint, with much grievance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lazare-carnot/in-a-free-country-there-is-much-clamor-with-little-suffering-in-a/) [Lazare Carnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lazare-carnot/) > [This little world, this little state, this little commonwealth of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/this-little-world-this-little-state-this-little-commonwealth-of-our/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“Little City wasn’t really a city. It was more like a big town, with twenty thousand citizens. There had been fewer than four hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/little-city-wasn-t-really-a-city-it-was-more-like-a-big-town-with/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Little by little, the city falls away, like something giving up...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lane/little-by-little-the-city-falls-away-like-something-giving-up/) [Harriet Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lane/) > [I'll never forget my little city! I could talk a whole day about it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-ambrosio/i-ll-never-forget-my-little-city-i-could-talk-a-whole-day-about-it/) [Alessandra Ambrosio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-ambrosio/) > [I have been traveling to every corner of the great state of Florida. I've met some great people and we've had an honest discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hasner/i-have-been-traveling-to-every-corner-of-the-great-state-of-florida-i/) [Adam Hasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hasner/) > [California can't be a great state until all parts of the state are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/california-can-t-be-a-great-state-until-all-parts-of-the-state-are/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [North Dakota is a great state. Everybody is real supportive up there. I couldn't ask for a better place to call home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/north-dakota-is-a-great-state-everybody-is-real-supportive-up-there-i/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [I just want people in America to know that Oklahoma is a great place to live. You know, just like states have wildfires in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-fallin/i-just-want-people-in-america-to-know-that-oklahoma-is-a-great-place/) [Mary Fallin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-fallin/) > [South Dakota is a great state because of its values, not because of dependence on government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/south-dakota-is-a-great-state-because-of-its-values-not-because-of/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Steve Smith Sr. and the Steve Smith Family Foundation exemplify the spirit of resilience, compassion, and service that defines our great state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-robinson/steve-smith-sr-and-the-steve-smith-family-foundation-exemplify-the/) [Mark Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-robinson/) > [A great state is a well-blended mash of something of all the people and all of none of the people. The liquor of statecraft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/a-great-state-is-a-well-blended-mash-of-something-of-all-the-people/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [As the leaders and decision-makers of this great state, it is our responsibility to strive for perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/as-the-leaders-and-decision-makers-of-this-great-state-it-is-our/) [Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/) > [It's wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/it-s-wonderful-to-be-here-in-the-great-state-of-chicago/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [Michigan... it's a great state... somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralphie-may/michigan-it-s-a-great-state-somewhere/) [Ralphie May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralphie-may/) ## More by Themistocles > [I have with me two gods, Persuasion and Compulsion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-have-with-me-two-gods-persuasion-and-compulsion/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [He who commands the sea has command of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/he-who-commands-the-sea-has-command-of-everything/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [I choose the likely man in preference to the rich man; I want a man without money rather than money without a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-choose-the-likely-man-in-preference-to-the-rich-man-i-want-a-man/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [The Athenians govern the Greeks; I govern the Athenians; you, my wife, govern me; your son governs you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/the-athenians-govern-the-greeks-i-govern-the-athenians-you-my-wife/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [I never learned how to tune a harp, or play upon a lute; but I know how to raise a small and obscure city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-never-learned-how-to-tune-a-harp-or-play-upon-a-lute-but-i-know-how/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [May I never sit on a tribunal where my friends shall not find more favor from me than strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/may-i-never-sit-on-a-tribunal-where-my-friends-shall-not-find-more/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [Strike, if you will, but listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/strike-if-you-will-but-listen/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) [Explore all 8 Themistocles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) ## More Arabia quotes > [There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/there-is-nothing-in-the-desert-and-no-man-needs-nothing/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/) > [You know, in Saudi Arabia, you're innocent until proven Jewish. Female. Guilty! They're guilty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-know-in-saudi-arabia-you-re-innocent-until-proven-jewish-female/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [In Saudi Arabia, among other countries, Muslims are not free to convert to Christianity, and Christians are not free to practice their faith. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/in-saudi-arabia-among-other-countries-muslims-are-not-free-to-convert/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/hillary-clinton-has-decided-to-line-up-with-john-mccain-in-pushing-to/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/) > [We're defending Saudi Arabia? And with all of the money they have, we're defending them, and they're not paying? All you have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-re-defending-saudi-arabia-and-with-all-of-the-money-they-have-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Our president's latest energy initiative was to go to Saudi Arabia and beg King Abdullah to give us a little relief on gasoline prices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/our-president-s-latest-energy-initiative-was-to-go-to-saudi-arabia/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Like so many Boomers, I saw 'Lawrence of Arabia' in 1962 when it was first released and when we were young teenagers. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/like-so-many-boomers-i-saw-lawrence-of-arabia-in-1962-when-it-was/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [The Treasury Department would use the interest from these securities to hire U.S. companies to build Saudi Arabia - new cities, new infrastructure -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/the-treasury-department-would-use-the-interest-from-these-securities/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [They chose me for Lawrence of Arabia because I spoke English, had black hair, black eyes and a moustache. It was all luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sharif/they-chose-me-for-lawrence-of-arabia-because-i-spoke-english-had/) [Omar Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sharif/) > [Avatar is a watershed movie. We'll always refer to Lawrence of Arabia in the same way. We'll always look at Avatar and say, "That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/avatar-is-a-watershed-movie-we-ll-always-refer-to-lawrence-of-arabia/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [There is always the risk that a conflagration in the Middle East becomes larger and more dangerous. In this scenario, we discover that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/there-is-always-the-risk-that-a-conflagration-in-the-middle-east/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [My favorite movie is Lawrence Of Arabia. But that's a long, long movie. So although I've seen it several times, it's not as fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/my-favorite-movie-is-lawrence-of-arabia-but-that-s-a-long-long-movie/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [Sadly, a U.S. invasion of Iraq 'would threaten the whole stability of the Middle East' - or so Amr Moussa, secretary-general of the Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/sadly-a-u-s-invasion-of-iraq-would-threaten-the-whole-stability-of/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) [Browse all 343 Arabia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I cannot fiddle, but I can make a great state from a little city.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Themistocles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-state-from-a-little-city/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arabia" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-state-from-a-little-city/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/themistocles-48826_arabia_i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-s_2687567.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/themistocles-48826_arabia_i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-s_2687567.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/themistocles-48826_arabia_i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-s_2687567.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I cannot fiddle, but I can make a great state from a little city.” — Themistocles", "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": "Themistocles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I cannot fiddle, but I can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-state-from-a-little-city/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-cannot-fiddle-but-i-can-make-a-great-state-from-a-little-city/#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 } } ] } ```