Find out what is the meaning of the quote: “Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.”
The word “prove” means to show that it is true or show beyond doubt.
The word “ability” means physical or mental power or skill.
The word “outgrow” means to leave behind as one matures or improves. Or simply means surpass.
As for this quote “Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.”, it means people who can show convincingly that they have the capability to handle their present and lower-rank job very well.
Their ability or skill have surpassed their present job requirement.
So it is time to give them to handle a bigger job scope.
In other words, now they are ready to manage a much heavier and important job responsibility.
From my findings, this quote is popularly attributed to both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Theodore Roosevelt.
According to Wikiquote, this line is most probably NOT by Theodore Roosevelt.
It is marked as “Unsourced“.
But in the book “” by Stephen Mansfield, this line is said to be by Theodore Roosevelt on page 28.
It mentioned that this line is quoted in “The Management Review, Vol.6. American Management Association” (1919).
But it does not verify the authenticity of this quote, “Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.”
Interestingly, until now (2022) people are still attributing this quote either Theodore Roosevelt or Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The problem is none of them cite the proper source of this ability quotation.
Talking about ability quotes, here are authentic lines from Theodore Roosevelt and Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“As a nation we had prided ourselves on our business ability and adroitness in the arts of peace, while outsiders, at any rate, did not credit us with any especial warlike prowess…” – Theodore Roosevelt
(The Rough Riders By Theodore Roosevelt, New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 2006, V. In The Trenches, P. 110) source
(The quote is also found here.)
“Mere ability to achieve success in things concerning the body would not have atoned for the failure to live the life of high endeavor…” – Theodore Roosevelt
(A Square Deal By Theodore Roosevelt, A Square Deal And Success in Life) source
(The quote is also found here.)
Note: Taken from remarks at the Founders’ Day Banquet of the Union League in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1902.
Related: Here are three sites with free books by Theodore Roosevelt.
“Most persons of ability meet in society with a kind of tacit appeal.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
(The Prose Works Of Ralph Waldo Emerson, In Two Volumes, Volume I, Boston: Fields, Osgood & Cp., 1870, Politics, P. 530) source
(The quote is also found here.)
“The scholar is that man who must take up into himself all the ability of the time, all the contributions of the past, all the hopes of the future. He must be an university of knowledges.” – Ralp Waldo Emerson
(The Prose Works Of Ralph Waldo Emerson, In Two Volumes, Volume I, Boston: Fields, Osgood & Cp., 1870, The American Scholar, P. 61) source
(The quote is also found here.)
“The ambition to create value evokes every kind of ability, government becomes a manufacturing, corporation, and every house a mill .” – Ralp Waldo Emerson
(English Traits: England And English Characteristics: Lectures On The Race , Ability, Manners, Truth, Character, Wealth, Aristocracy, Univerities, Religion, Literature, The “Times,”, &c., &c, &c By Ralph Waldo Emerson, London: George Bell Sons, 1896, X. Wealth, P. 70) source
(The quote is also found here.)
Related: Here are three sites with free books by Ralph Waldo Emerson:
*Here is list of ability quotations with full citations that linked to the original sources.