I am nothing but I must be everything.
Karl MarxRead
History calls those men the greatest who have ennobled themselves by working for the common good; experience acclaims as happiest the man who has made the greatest number of people happy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True greatness is achieved through selfless service to others, leading to collective happiness.
In this quote, Karl Marx expresses the idea that true greatness is not measured by personal achievements or wealth, but rather by the positive impact one has on the lives of others. He suggests that individuals who dedicate their lives to the common good find fulfillment and are ultimately celebrated both by history and society. The happiest individuals, according to Marx, are those who contribute to the happiness of many people, emphasizing the value of altruism and communal well-being over personal success.
Themes
GreatnessHappinessCommon GoodAltruismServiceHistory
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a speech on community service to inspire others.
More from Karl Marx
All quotes →Religion is the opiate of the people.
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Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past. The tradition of all the dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brain of the living.
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To be radical is to grasp things by the root.
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Men's ideas are the most direct emanations of their material state.
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