--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The modern majesty consists in work. What…" description: "\"The modern majesty consists in work. What a man can do is his greatest ornament, and he always consults his dignity by doing it.\" — Thomas Carlyle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/thomas-carlyle-207_can-do_the-modern-majesty-consists-in-work-what_66364.png" --- # The modern majesty consists in work. What a man can do is… ![“The modern majesty consists in work. What a man can do is his greatest ornament, and he always consults his dignity by doing it.” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/thomas-carlyle-207_can-do_the-modern-majesty-consists-in-work-what_66364.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/thomas-carlyle-207_can-do_the-modern-majesty-consists-in-work-what_66364.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/thomas-carlyle-207_can-do_the-modern-majesty-consists-in-work-what_66364.png) > “The modern majesty consists in work. What a man can do is his greatest ornament, and he always consults his dignity by doing it.” [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. Work is the true measure of a person's worth; achievements define dignity more than status or appearance. **In simple terms:** Work defines dignity. Key Takeaway Action is the highest adornment. Themes work ethic self-worth dignity achievement personal responsibility Mood inspired determined respectful Type maxim philosophical quote When to use this quote - career building - personal development - overcoming adversity - seeking purpose - leadership Key Concepts identity value labor Practical Applications - career coaching - motivational speaking Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to earn dignity through action? - How can we value effort over external symbols? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [He removes the greatest ornament of friendship who takes away from it respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/he-removes-the-greatest-ornament-of-friendship-who-takes-away-from-it/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [ He takes the greatest ornament from friendship, who takes modesty from it. \[Lat., Maximum ornamentum amicitiae tollit, qui ex ea tollit verecudiam.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/he-takes-the-greatest-ornament-from-friendship-who-takes-modesty-from/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The first purpose of clothes... was not warmth or decency, but ornament… Among wild people, we find tattooing and painting even prior to clothes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-first-purpose-of-clothes-was-not-warmth-or-decency-but-ornament/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The man with the greatest soul will always face the greatest war with the low minded person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-man-with-the-greatest-soul-will-always-face-the-greatest-war-with/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Atoms for peace. Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greatest-miracle-and-the-greatest/) [David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/) > [Man's greatest asset is the unsettled mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/man-s-greatest-asset-is-the-unsettled-mind/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Man's greatest battle is being a true philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/man-s-greatest-battle-is-being-a-true-philosopher/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Man's greatest concern is to know how he shall properly fill his place in the universe and correctly understand what he must be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/man-s-greatest-concern-is-to-know-how-he-shall-properly-fill-his/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“Man's greatest gift is his ability to create his own reality with himself at the center of it. The greatest deception is the giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vd/man-s-greatest-gift-is-his-ability-to-create-his-own-reality-with/) VD > [Yet is every man his greatest enemy, and, as it were, his own executioner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yet-is-every-man-his-greatest-enemy-and-as-it-were-his-own-executioner/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“a man’s greatest treasures are his illusions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/a-man-s-greatest-treasures-are-his-illusions/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“I am no heroic figure, but a man like any other, capable of selfish and selfless at once, of light and dark, courage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-doyle/i-am-no-heroic-figure-but-a-man-like-any-other-capable-of-selfish-and/) [Brian Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-doyle/) > [Man has become our greatest hazard, and our only hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/man-has-become-our-greatest-hazard-and-our-only-hope/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“And man is the greatest killer, the greatest hunter of them all. The whole world of nature knows man for the irresistible master. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/and-man-is-the-greatest-killer-the-greatest-hunter-of-them-all-the/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [Man's greatest victory is over oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/man-s-greatest-victory-is-over-oneself/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Thomas Carlyle > [O thou that pinest in the imprisonment of the Actual, and criest bitterly to the gods for a kingdom wherein to rule and create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/o-thou-that-pinest-in-the-imprisonment-of-the-actual-and-criest/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-sadder-proof-can-be-given-by-a-man-of-his-own-littleness-than/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The sincere alone can recognize sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-sincere-alone-can-recognize-sincerity/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-glory-of-a-workman-still-more-of-a-master-workman-that-he-does/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [All human things do require to have an ideal in them; to have some soul in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/all-human-things-do-require-to-have-an-ideal-in-them-to-have-some/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Insurrection, never so necessary, is a most sad necessity; and governors who wait for that to instruct them are surely getting into the fatalest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/insurrection-never-so-necessary-is-a-most-sad-necessity-and-governors/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [What is philosophy but a continual battle against custom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/what-is-philosophy-but-a-continual-battle-against-custom/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Let Time and Chance combine, combine! Let Time and Chance combine! The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-time-and-chance-combine-combine-let-time-and-chance-combine-the/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Thought will not work except in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/thought-will-not-work-except-in-silence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The public is anold woman.Let her maunderand mumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-public-is-anold-woman-let-her-maunderand-mumble/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Does not every true man feel that he is himself made higher by doing reverence to what is really above him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/does-not-every-true-man-feel-that-he-is-himself-made-higher-by-doing/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The press is the fourth estate of the realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-press-is-the-fourth-estate-of-the-realm/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) [Explore all 917 Thomas Carlyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The modern majesty consists in work. 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