--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great minds have purpose, others have…" description: "\"“Great minds have purpose, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.”\" — Washington Irving" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/washington-irving-1386_great-minds_great-minds-have-purpose-others-have-wis_2954991.png" --- # Great minds have purpose, others have wishes. Little minds… ![“Great minds have purpose, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.” quote by Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/washington-irving-1386_great-minds_great-minds-have-purpose-others-have-wis_2954991.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/washington-irving-1386_great-minds_great-minds-have-purpose-others-have-wis_2954991.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/washington-irving-1386_great-minds_great-minds-have-purpose-others-have-wis_2954991.png) > ““Great minds have purpose, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.”” [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great minds pursue purpose, while lesser minds are limited by misfortune; true greatness transcends adversity. **In simple terms:** Purposeful minds rise above hardship. Key Takeaway Cultivate purpose, not just wishes. Themes purpose resilience mindset adversity greatness Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - overcoming setbacks - leadership training Key Concepts existentialism psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What purpose drives you? - How can you turn misfortune into growth? A Different Perspective Purpose alone may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-minds/) [Little minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-minds/) [Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/little-minds-are-tamed-and-subdued-by-misfortune-but-great-minds-rise/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [“some times its good to get advice from others such as this one esp when you feel like giving up : Washington Irving said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kak-siti-fauziana/some-times-its-good-to-get-advice-from-others-such-as-this-one-esp/) kak Siti Fauziana > [“Feeble minds are tamed,great minds always conquer..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-r-shankar/feeble-minds-are-tamed-great-minds-always-conquer/) I.R. Shankar > [Great minds have purposes; little minds have wishes. Little minds are subdued by misfortunes; great minds rise above them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/great-minds-have-purposes-little-minds-have-wishes-little-minds-are/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [We do not content ourselves with the life we have in ourselves; we desire to live an imaginary life in the minds of others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-do-not-content-ourselves-with-the-life-we-have-in-ourselves-we/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [We take for granted that we need to take showers, clean our house, and wash our clothes. Yet the mind and its thoughts need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anodea-judith/we-take-for-granted-that-we-need-to-take-showers-clean-our-house-and/) [Anodea Judith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anodea-judith/) > [If you would stand well with a great mind, leave him with a favorable impression of yourself; if with a little mind, leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/if-you-would-stand-well-with-a-great-mind-leave-him-with-a-favorable/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Little minds try to solve the matters through violence and darkness; great minds try to solve the matters through love and light!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/little-minds-try-to-solve-the-matters-through-violence-and-darkness/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Little minds think and talk about people. Average minds think and talk about things and actions. Great minds think and talk about ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-minds-think-and-talk-about-people-average-minds-think-and-talk/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The little mind who loves itself, will wr'te and think with the vulgar; but the great mind will be bravely eccentric, and scorn the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-little-mind-who-loves-itself-will-wr-te-and-think-with-the-vulgar/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Little minds are too much hurt by little things; great minds are quite conscious of them and despise them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/little-minds-are-too-much-hurt-by-little-things-great-minds-are-quite/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [As it is the mark of great minds to say many things in a few words, so it is that of little minds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/as-it-is-the-mark-of-great-minds-to-say-many-things-in-a-few-words-so/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Little minds are interested in the extraordinary; great minds in the commonplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/little-minds-are-interested-in-the-extraordinary-great-minds-in-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [a great mind can attend to little things, but a little mind cannot attend to great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/a-great-mind-can-attend-to-little-things-but-a-little-mind-cannot/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [For healthy minds are those that rise above the instinct of male and female and can see others with one identification , as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/for-healthy-minds-are-those-that-rise-above-the-instinct-of-male-and/) Senoraroy ## More by Washington Irving > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Language gradually varies, and with it fade away the writings of authors who have flourished their allotted time; otherwise, the creative powers of genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/language-gradually-varies-and-with-it-fade-away-the-writings-of/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's life is a history of the affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Over no nation does the press hold a more absolute control than over the people of America, for the universal education of the poorest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/over-no-nation-does-the-press-hold-a-more-absolute-control-than-over/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I have never found, in anything outside of the four walls of my study, an enjoyment equal to sitting at my writing desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-have-never-found-in-anything-outside-of-the-four-walls-of-my-study/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is no character in the comedy of human life more difficult to play well than that of an old bachelor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-no-character-in-the-comedy-of-human-life-more-difficult-to/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-proportion-to-his-thoughts-he/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much says but little in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/redundancy-of-language-is-never-found-with-deep-reflection-verbiage/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is a majestic grandeur in tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-a-majestic-grandeur-in-tranquillity/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There rise authors now and then, who seem proof against the mutability of language, because they have rooted themselves in the unchanging principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-rise-authors-now-and-then-who-seem-proof-against-the-mutability/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-nothing-in-england-that-exercises-a-more-delightful-spell/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities between two nations; there exists, more commonly, a previous jealousy and ill will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/it-is-but-seldom-that-any-one-overt-act-produces-hostilities-between/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) [Explore all 244 Washington Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## More Great minds quotes > [The power of duly appreciating little things belongs to a great mind...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/the-power-of-duly-appreciating-little-things-belongs-to-a-great-mind/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [It is thus hardly surprising that so many of the great minds in recent history have concerned themselves with economic matters. Indeed, they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zane-pilzer/it-is-thus-hardly-surprising-that-so-many-of-the-great-minds-in/) [Paul Zane Pilzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zane-pilzer/) > [College is such a unique time because you're learning a little bit how to be an adult. You're learning how to take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/college-is-such-a-unique-time-because-you-re-learning-a-little-bit/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [Great minds think alike because a greater Mind is thinking through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/great-minds-think-alike-because-a-greater-mind-is-thinking-through/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Remember that poise and power are inseparably associated. The calm and balanced mind is the strong and great mind; the hurried and agitated mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/remember-that-poise-and-power-are-inseparably-associated-the-calm-and/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [My sense is that we're ready for another industrial revolution in this country. The great minds and innovators of Silicon Valley would come through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/my-sense-is-that-we-re-ready-for-another-industrial-revolution-in/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [Great minds are always feared by lesser minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/great-minds-are-always-feared-by-lesser-minds/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [The sciences of today are business enterprises run on business principles. Research in large institutes is not guided by Truth and Reason but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/the-sciences-of-today-are-business-enterprises-run-on-business/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [If Uber wants to catch up to Google and be the leader in autonomy, we have to have the best minds. We have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kalanick/if-uber-wants-to-catch-up-to-google-and-be-the-leader-in-autonomy-we/) [Travis Kalanick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kalanick/) > [When you put two great minds, great things can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/when-you-put-two-great-minds-great-things-can-happen/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [A great mind will neither give an affront nor bear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/a-great-mind-will-neither-give-an-affront-nor-bear-it/) [Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/) > [Managing your problems can only make you good, whereas building your opportunities is the only way to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/managing-your-problems-can-only-make-you-good-whereas-building-your/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Could the one whom Christians worship be merely a mythological creation, or is he real? These questions have exercised many great minds and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-clayton/could-the-one-whom-christians-worship-be-merely-a-mythological/) [John Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-clayton/) > [“Great minds talk about ideas; small minds talk about people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/great-minds-talk-about-ideas-small-minds-talk-about-people/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“Great bodies die but great minds don't die! Inside the tomb of great men lay dead body's but at the library of great men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/great-bodies-die-but-great-minds-don-t-die-inside-the-tomb-of-great/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) [Browse all 180 Great minds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-minds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Great minds have purpose, others have wishes. 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