If any man seeks for greatness, let him forget greatness and ask

"If any man seeks for greatness, let him forget greatness and ask for truth, and he will find both." — so taught Horace Mann, the father of American public education, whose life was devoted not to glory but to service, not to honors but to the cultivation of minds. In these words he delivers a teaching both humble and exalted: that the pursuit of truth must always precede the pursuit of greatness, for greatness is not an end in itself, but the natural companion of truth honestly sought. The man who hunts for greatness alone will be deceived by vanity; but the man who seeks truth, with sincerity and courage, will often discover that greatness has walked beside him unbidden.

Mann spoke from his own convictions as a reformer in the nineteenth century, when America struggled to shape itself into a nation of free minds and equal opportunity. His mission was education for all, not as a means of producing glory, but as the surest path to an enlightened citizenry. He did not chase greatness for himself, but pursued truth in learning and justice in opportunity. And because he sought truth rather than honor, history remembers him as great. His life was the very embodiment of his words: truth first, greatness after.

This wisdom is echoed throughout history. Consider Socrates, who never sought greatness, wealth, or power. He sought only truth — even to the point of questioning the very foundations of his society. He accepted death rather than abandon his search for wisdom. And though condemned by Athens as a criminal, time has crowned him with the greatness he never pursued. By choosing truth over greatness, he gained both.

Or reflect on Abraham Lincoln, who in his early life sought no titles of grandeur. He pursued instead the truth of liberty and the dignity of man. When the hour of decision came, he did not ask how he might become great, but how he might remain faithful to truth. In defending the Union and proclaiming freedom to the enslaved, he became one of the most revered figures in human history. Here again we see Mann’s wisdom: greatness is the shadow cast by truth when it is lived with courage.

Mann’s teaching is also a warning. Those who set out to chase greatness for its own sake often fall into corruption. Kings who lusted for glory at the expense of justice were forgotten, their empires reduced to dust. Leaders who sought fame without truth achieved notoriety but not greatness, and their names became curses rather than blessings. The man who seeks greatness alone may find applause for a moment, but he will lose honor in eternity.

The lesson for us, O seeker, is clear: seek truth, not glory. Do not live for the praises of men, for they are fleeting and fickle. Live instead for the truth that endures, for it will bring with it a greatness not of vanity but of substance. Truth may lead you into hardship, but it will also crown you with dignity. Greatness, if it comes, will come not because you pursued it, but because you pursued truth.

Practical action is within your reach. Ask yourself not, "How can I be admired?" but "What is true, and how can I live it?" In your work, do not labor for titles, but for honesty. In your friendships, do not seek popularity, but sincerity. In your speech, do not aim for applause, but for truth. For the man or woman who lives by truth, greatness will follow as a faithful servant, even if unbidden.

Thus let Mann’s words stand as a guide for all ages: “If any man seeks for greatness, let him forget greatness and ask for truth, and he will find both.” The way to greatness is not the path of ambition, but the road of honesty and courage. Seek truth, and greatness will come; seek greatness, and you may lose both. This is the eternal law of honor, written in the lives of the just and proclaimed by the wisdom of the ages.