Avram Alpert

In this distinction, “great” refers to those who have power and significance in determining the course of many human lives, while “good” refers to those who act with ethics
and dignity. In practice, greatness and goodness often are opposed. Many great entrepreneurs, entertainers, or political rulers may not be particularly good people.

Many people worry that in a world that ensures decency and sufficiency for
all, most humans will become lazy free riders who do nothing but benefit from the continued hard work of others. Some of this might happen, of course—we’re aiming for a good-enough world, not a perfect one. But the idea that we will lose our motivation ignores the deep human passion to create and sustain a world that is decent and dignified for all.

I didn’t yet realize it, but I had made one of the mistakes that plagues our culture today: I had criticized material wealth, but
I had not given up my obsession with greatness.