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About this quote

What does it mean?
Great achievements require sincere dealings with oneself.
In plain terms
Great things need honesty with yourself.
What can you take from it?
Achieve great things through sincerity with yourself.

Where it applies

  • personal achievement
  • self improvement
  • artistic creation

Putting it to work

  • practice self honesty
  • maintain integrity
  • pursue truth

Questions to consider

  • Why is honesty with self important?
  • What makes great work?

Another view

Sincerity alone may not guarantee great output.

More from James Russell Lowell

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  3. There is no work of genius which has not been the delight of mankind, no word of genius to which the human heart and soul have not sooner or later responded.

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