--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man's Unhappiness... comes of his…" description: "\"Man's Unhappiness... comes of his Greatness; it is because there is an Infinite in him, with which all his cunning he cannot quite bury under the Finit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/thomas-carlyle-207_black_man-s-unhappiness-comes-of-his-greatness_2095503.png" --- # Man's Unhappiness... comes of his Greatness; it is because… ![“Man's Unhappiness... comes of his Greatness; it is because there is an Infinite in him, with which all his cunning he cannot quite bury under the Finite... Try him with half of a Universe, of an Omnipotence, he sets to quarreling with the proprietor of the other half, and declares himself the most…” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/thomas-carlyle-207_black_man-s-unhappiness-comes-of-his-greatness_2095503.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/thomas-carlyle-207_black_man-s-unhappiness-comes-of-his-greatness_2095503.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/thomas-carlyle-207_black_man-s-unhappiness-comes-of-his-greatness_2095503.png) > “Man's Unhappiness... comes of his Greatness; it is because there is an Infinite in him, with which all his cunning he cannot quite bury under the Finite... Try him with half of a Universe, of an Omnipotence, he sets to quarreling with the proprietor of the other half, and declares himself the most maltreated of men. Always there is a black spot in our sunshine: It is... the Shadow of Ourselves.” [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human discontent stems from recognizing an infinite inner potential that finite reality cannot contain, leading to conflict with the limits of existence. **In simple terms:** We suffer because we sense greatness beyond our reach. Key Takeaway Accept limits, nurture inner growth. Themes existential psychology human nature conflict self-awareness Mood reflective melancholic thoughtful Type philosophical literary inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - creative work - spiritual seeking - leadership challenges Key Concepts infinite potential finite constraints self-deception Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile inner aspirations with external realities? - What limits are constructive versus self‑imposed? A Different Perspective The quote may overstate the role of ego, ignoring external hardships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning/) [Finite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finite/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Greatness Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness-infinite-4161576/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite/) [Infinite Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite-cunning-4161577/) [Man Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-unhappiness-985449/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Omnipotence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omnipotence/) [Other half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other-half/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spots/) [Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunshine/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) [Unhappiness Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness-comes-795763/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [Man's Unhappiness, as I construe, comes of his Greatness; it is because there is an Infinite in him, with which all his cunning he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/man-s-unhappiness-as-i-construe-comes-of-his-greatness-it-is-because/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Man's unhappiness, as I construe, comes of his greatness; it is because there is an Infinite in him, which with all his cunning he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/man-s-unhappiness-as-i-construe-comes-of-his-greatness-it-is-because-2/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [On the occasions when I have pondered over men's various activities, the dangers and worries they are exposed to at court or at war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/on-the-occasions-when-i-have-pondered-over-men-s-various-activities-2/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The cause of most of man's unhappiness is sacrificing what he wants most for what he wants now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-cause-of-most-of-man-s-unhappiness-is-sacrificing-what-he-wants/) [Gordon B. 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Ask him if he can still sleep. If the answer's "yes," all's well. That is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/never-believe-straight-off-in-a-man-s-unhappiness-ask-him-if-he-can/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [I too acknowledge the all-out omnipotence of early culture and nature; hereby we have either a doddered dwarf-bush, or a high-towering, wide-shadowing tree! either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/i-too-acknowledge-the-all-out-omnipotence-of-early-culture-and-nature/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [One is weary of hearing about the omnipotence of money. I will say rather that, for a genuine man, it is not evil to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/one-is-weary-of-hearing-about-the-omnipotence-of-money-i-will-say/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [ “\[Unhappiness\] comes to you. 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