"Great men lose somewhat of their greatness by being near us; ordinary men gain much"

This quote by Walter Savage Landor speaks to the idea that greatness is relative. When we are in the existence of terrific people, their success can be decreased in contrast to our own. On the other hand, when we remain in the presence of common individuals, we can gain a higher appreciation for our own success. This quote recommends that success is not an outright measure, but rather a relative one. It is a tip that we need to not take our own success for given, and that we ought to make every effort to be the best variation of ourselves. It also works as a tip that we should not be too fast to evaluate others, as we may discover that they have something to use us that we might not have seen previously. Eventually, this quote motivates us to be modest and to recognize the greatness in others, as well as in ourselves.