---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Learn to admire rightly; the great…"
description: "\"Learn to admire rightly; the great pleasure of life is that. Note what the great men admired; they admired great things; narrow spirits admire basely, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_admiration_learn-to-admire-rightly-the-great-pleasu_407793.jpg"
---

#  Learn to admire rightly; the great pleasure of life is…

![“Learn to admire rightly; the great pleasure of life is that. Note what the great men admired; they admired great things; narrow spirits admire basely, and worship meanly.” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_admiration_learn-to-admire-rightly-the-great-pleasu_407793.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_admiration_learn-to-admire-rightly-the-great-pleasu_407793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_admiration_learn-to-admire-rightly-the-great-pleasu_407793.jpg)

> “Learn to admire rightly; the great pleasure of life is that. Note what the great men admired; they admired great things; narrow spirits admire basely, and worship meanly.”

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True admiration is for great things; narrow minds settle for petty, superficial objects.

**In simple terms:** Admire greatness, not trivialities.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate appreciation for profound achievements.

Themes

admiration greatness mindset

Mood

critical reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- art criticism
- leadership
- personal growth
- education

Key Concepts

aesthetics ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What do you truly admire?
- How can you broaden your perspective?

A Different Perspective

People may struggle to recognize greatness without exposure.

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