What Is Greatness, Anyway?

Very few dispute the goodness of Mother Theresa, but she is still not infallible. At least not semantically. Photo source: St. Josemaria Institute

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.

—Mother Theresa

Maybe it’s the American Bias in me that makes me think all of us have the potential for greatness—whether or not we attain or even choose to pursue it. Maybe I have a semantic problem with the term “great things.”

What does that even mean? Does a thing have to affect millions or change the course of history to be “great”? Isn’t it a great thing if it changes only one person—no matter how transiently, even that person is yourself—for the better?

But I have no argument with the second sentence. We can all do small things with great love. Doing so should be a daily goal approached humbly and quietly. Wouldn’t that be great?