Category Archives: Greatness

The discredited philosophies of power

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propagandist, dismissed Mahatma Gandhi as a fool and a fanatic, certain that Gandhi could never bring about independence for India following a path of non-resistance and peaceful revolution. Yet as history played itself out, India won … Continue reading →

Posted in Cruelty, Goodness, Greatness, Oppression, Power, Power for evil, Power for good, Power over People, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Growing great simply

Posted on October 18, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Impresario Sol Hurok said that Marian Anderson, one of the most celebrated opera singers of the century, hadn’t simply grown great, she’d grown great simply. He said: ‘A few years ago a reporter asked her to name the greatest moment … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Character, Greatness, humility | Leave a comment

Victoria’s not-so-secret

Posted on November 15, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Queen Victoria once held a reception in honour of an African chieftain. He’d never seen a finger bowl before and when was set before him he picked it up and drank its contents. The cream of British society sat aghast … Continue reading →

Posted in Generous spirit, Greatness, humility | Tagged | Leave a comment

The future doesn’t belong to the conquerors

Posted on November 11, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A French schoolmaster once wrote a report on of one of his students that said :‘He is the smallest, the meekest, the most unpromising boy in my class.’ Half a century later, that same boy, now a man was voted … Continue reading →

Posted in Greatness, Selflessness, Servant leadership, Service | Leave a comment

‘We could not afford to lose a voice like that’

Posted on June 5, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras were once on opposite sides of the political divide so much so that Carreras refused to appear on the same stage as Domingo. But then he contracted leukemia and almost went bankrupt paying for treatments. … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Acts of Kindness, Generous spirit, Gratitude, Greatness, humility, Nobility | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Do it anyway

Posted on May 19, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

The famous English preacher John Stott was a great advocate of the importance of practicing virtue even when the consequences work against you. He said: ‘Some People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Acts of Kindness, Attitude, Character, Faithfulness, Great Endeavours, Greatness, Life's journey, Overcoming, risk takers, Self Discipline, Servant leadership, Spiritual Leaders, True greatness | Leave a comment

The gold that lasts forever

Posted on April 27, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Michael Phelps, who had already won five gold medals in the Athens Olympics, seemed certain to win another in the four by four hundred medley relay. Ian Crocker though hadn’t been so fortunate. Fighting flu symptoms all week, it seemed … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Generosity, Generous spirit, Greatness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment