--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There have been in this century only one…" description: "\"There have been in this century only one great man and one great thing: Napoleon and liberty. For want of the great man, let us have the great thing.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/victor-hugo-32_century_there-have-been-in-this-century-only-one_3008233.jpg" --- # There have been in this century only one great man and one… ![“There have been in this century only one great man and one great thing: Napoleon and liberty. For want of the great man, let us have the great thing.” quote by Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/victor-hugo-32_century_there-have-been-in-this-century-only-one_3008233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/victor-hugo-32_century_there-have-been-in-this-century-only-one_3008233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/victor-hugo-32_century_there-have-been-in-this-century-only-one_3008233.jpg) > “There have been in this century only one great man and one great thing: Napoleon and liberty. For want of the great man, let us have the great thing.” [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Napoleon represents great men; liberty is the great thing; without the man, the ideal persists. **In simple terms:** Great individuals matter, but liberty endures beyond them. Key Takeaway Value liberty over individual heroes. Themes history leadership freedom legacy Mood thoughtful philosophical Type historical political reflective When to use this quote - civic education - political activism - historical analysis Key Concepts political theory philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What sustains liberty without a great leader? - Can individuals truly embody ideals? A Different Perspective Liberty can be compromised without strong leadership. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Liberty Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty-want-834423/) [Napoleon Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/napoleon-liberty-4809719/) [Thing Napoleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-napoleon-4809720/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [I believe in only one thing: liberty; but I do not believe in liberty enough to want to force it upon anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/i-believe-in-only-one-thing-liberty-but-i-do-not-believe-in-liberty/) [H. L. 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