Ayn Rand

Let's start with me saying that I do not believe in any Ayn Rand said. But I thought about something for a while. She said that in every generation there are some really bright people, who will be great. (Howard Roark) The fall of the majority in two other categories .. People who realize and appreciate the greatness, but they will never accept that it is reached. (Peter Keating) and those that do not know, and does not realize that they will never achieve greatness. (Ellsworth Toohey).

My question is, do you think at some point, a person must decide if they achieve greatness, or accept that they are not able?

Well here's my feeling about this and I hope it gives a preview.

I think greatness is something that is binary. Either you have reached the size or you do not. People will probably argue this point, but I maintain that it does not take the majority of hearts and minds to be great. Also the magnitude may occur well beyond the lifetime of the source of greatness. An example might be an artist whose works are finally adopted after their death.

As for "power" and "not capable" You're one or the other at a given time. I think you can become "capable" of being "incapable". However, I do not think any decision or choice of a person can change whether or not they are capable of greatness.

Finally, I feel the greatness is something other people have to understand that you are in. You can not call you "big" Howard R. would agree with me on this point. He never considered his work or himself great. He never thought there was no other way to be right.

You seem not to have heard from the head. The size is determined by what is pursueing you love for yourself the care, standing for what you believe against all costs, put whatever you want and the first value. Instead of trying to be great in the eyes of other men to win ... Flag

approval and do what they want you to do. Flag

In this reading, it seems that nobody understood the Fountainhead. Ayn Rand poor! She denounced the pursuit of fame in the eyes of other men, do not pretend it was greatness! Flag

jehen - your definition of greatness is similar to Rand. Report Abuse

It really depends on the definition of greatness. If you mean the knowledge, I think we do that at every moment. I choose to learn more here on Yahoo Answers, and I chose to try to understand what I see and hear. I could choose not to, and become ignorant. Thats what I think.

Nobody should accept that they are not incompetent, but they have no desire to get out of the box, they see themselves in. We all know some people will never be great, but only Simon Cowell is harsh - and honest - enough to say so.
Characterization of Keating is true. He saw the greatness, Roark, and knew what it was greatness. He does not see itself.
But Toohey is not what you characterize. Toohey knew that greatness was, and began to destroy the greatness purposely Beco.