Quote by Francois de la Rochefoucauld, Ma
However brilliant an action, it should not be esteemed great unless the result of a great motive.
Summary
This quote suggests that the greatness of an action should not solely be determined by its brilliance or success, but rather by the motive behind it. Even if an action is impressive or commendable, it is only truly great if it is driven by a significant, noble, or virtuous motive. In other words, motivation and intention hold more value in evaluating the true greatness of an action than the action itself.