If you can't do great things, do small things in a great way.

The saying urges a pragmatic ethic of excellence: when circumstances, resources, or position prevent “great” achievements, one can still choose greatness in execution. It shifts the measure of success from scale to quality—care, integrity, and mastery applied to ordinary tasks. In motivational terms, it counters discouragement and perfectionism by validating incremental contribution and daily discipline as meaningful. The line also implies that reputations and larger opportunities often grow out of consistently well-done small work, making “greatness” a habit rather than a single monumental act.