TRUE GREATNESS

 

                                 TRUE GREATNESS          

 

            True greatness means : To do one’s best in the face of the commonplace struggles of life – and possibly in the face of failure ---and to continue to endure and to preserve in the ongoing difficulties of life when those struggles and tasks contribute to others’ progress and happiness and one’s own eternal salvation.    

           

            The Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher Thomas Carlyle( 1795-1881) said: We cannot look , however imperfectly, upon a great man, without gaining something by him. He is the living light fountain, which is good and pleasant to be near; the light which enlightens, which has enlightened, the darkness of the world ; and this, not as a kindled lamp only, but rather as a natural luminary, shining by the gift of Heaven ; a flowing light fountain, as I say, of native original insight, of manhood and heroic nobleness, in whose radiance all souls feel that it is well with them.

 

            According to the German statesman Bismarck (1815-98) a really great man is known by three signs ---generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success.

 

            To conclude, here is a poet’s answer to the question:

 

Who are the great?

Those who have boldly ventured to explore

Unsounded seas, and lands unknown before –

Soar’d on the wings of science, wide and far,

Measured the sun, and weighed each distant star ---

Pierced the dark depths of ocean and of earth,

And brought uncounted wonders into birth ---

Repell’d the pestilence, restrained the storm.

And given new beauty to the human form.

Waken’d the voice of reason, and unfurl’d

The page of truthful knowledge to the world.

They who have toil’d and studied for mankind---

Aroused the slumbering virtues of the mind ---

Taught as a thousand blessings to create :

These are the nobly great.

                                                            *******

G.R.Kanwal

25 June 2025