98. Greatness

The aspiration for glorious achievement is the light of life.
Disgrace is the dark thought that says, "I can live without it." 

All men who live are alike at birth.
Diverse actions define their distinction and distinctiveness.

Lowly men are never high, even when elevated.
High souls are never low, even when downtrodden.

Like chastity in a woman, greatness is guarded 
by being true to one's own self. 

A man possessing greatness possesses the power
to effectively perform uncommonly difficult deeds.

"We will befriend great men and become like them."
Such thoughts seldom intrude upon small minds.

When small-minded men do achieve some distinction,
it only serves to augment their arrogance.

Greatness is always humbly self-effacing, 
while pettiness adorns itself with words of praise.

Greatness abides in the absence of arrogance.
Smallness proudly parades its fulsome haughtiness.

Greatness conceals by silence the weaknesses of others.
Pettiness promptly proclaims such things to all.