What Is Greatness?

Question

I've asked this before, but I'll ask again.

What is greatness?

I have a picture in my mind of greatness, and then again---I don't. Sometimes I think it would be unfathomable to really imagine greatness, because its a thing we name too easily, but never really know.

I want to know what people think greatness is, what it takes for a person to become great--what it takes anything to reach greatness.

I think of Sam, or his son, From Steinbeck's "East of Eden". But then again, that's only something that's been fed to me by a book, it's not something I've devised and recognized as great by myself. Those people aren't even real.

So, other than cliche names that come to mind---please, give me your idea of greatness. Past the media hype and ridiculous blah blah blah's, give me something you've really thought about. Something that maybe even bothers you.

What is greatness? Thanks.

Answer 1

If one life has breathed easier because you have lived than you are great.

Answer 2

i think greatness is in the eye of the beholder. to me, greatness is making an impact in as many lives as possible. greatness is changing the world for the better.