Great Things Are Done
1800s, Poems from Blake's Notebook (c. 1807-1809)
“Nothing great is done without great men, and they are great because they wanted it.”
Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) eighteenth President of the French Republic
On ne fait rien de grand sans de grands hommes, et ceux-ci le sont pour l'avoir voulu.
in Vers l’armée de métier.
Writings
“When a thing's done, it's done, and if it's not done right, do it differently next time.”
Arthur Ransome book Swallowdale
Swallowdale (Chapter 8), 1931
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
Vincent Van Gogh (1853–1890) Dutch post-Impressionist painter (1853-1890)
In his letter to Theo, from The Hague, 22 October 1882, http://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/11/237.htm <br class="br">1880s, 1882
“When a thing is done, it's done. Don't look back. Look forward to your next objective.”
George Marshall (1880–1959) US military leader, Army Chief of Staff
As quoted in "George C. Marshall and the Marshall Plan: A Model of Transformational Diplomacy" (2005) by Tom Callahan http://web.archive.org/web/20050616023457/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/dc/rks/47848.htm
Lester B. Pearson (1897–1972) 14th Prime Minister of Canada
Memoirs, Volume Two
Source: NB: ghost-written post-mortem by Munro and Inglis
“Remember me when things are to be done.”
Vyasa central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions
Vyasa to his mother Satyavati Kali, after he was born and forced his body to mature that very day by will power”, meaning that he would appear before her whenever she thought of him, quoted by Alf Hiltebeitel in P.47.
Sources, A Reader's Guide to the Education of the Dharma King
“What men have done can still be done
And shall be done to-day.”
The Song of Abu Klea, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
“Now a' is done that men can do,
And a' is done in vain.”
Robert Burns (1759–1796) Scottish poet and lyricist
It Was A' for Our Rightfu' King, st. 2
Johnson's The Scots Musical Museum (1787-1796)
Woody Guthrie (1912–1967) American singer-songwriter and folk musician
The Columbia River Collection (1941), Biggest Thing That Man Has Ever Done
Variant: The world is digging, slavery's grave and when the job is done
This'll be the biggest thing that man has ever done.
Context: I'd better quit my talking, 'cause I told you all I know,
But please remember, pardner, wherever you may go,
The people are building a peaceful world, and when the job is done
That'll be the biggest thing that man has ever done.
