"Those who have wrought great changes in the world never succeeded by gaining over chiefs; but always by exciting the multitude. The first is the resource of intrigue and produces only secondary results, the second is the resort of genius and transforms the universe"
- Martin Van Buren
About this Quote
Martin Van Buren's quote recommends that those who have made a great influence on the world have done so not by acquiring the support of powerful people, but by inspiring the masses. He implies that relying on the assistance of influential people is a strategy that only yields restricted outcomes, while motivating the wide range is a technique that can cause transformative modification. This is a testament to the power of the people and the importance of motivating the masses to bring about significant change. Van Buren's quote encourages us to believe beyond the standard methods of gaining support and to concentrate on motivating individuals to cause real and enduring change.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"