Who's Your Favorite Historical Figure?

[Thumpalumpacus]

Admiration would really require a perfect person.

I disagree with this. I find folks admirable who work through their flaws. Churchill, mentioned above, and Abraham Lincoln, are two of my favorites. Both deeply flawed, both failures at many things they attempted, but both stalwart in how they faced the difficulties of their times. Both leading nations through deep troubles on what seemed to be, even if it wasn't, a bone-deep strength of character. Both racist, one an alcoholic, both widely read and one well-educated, one a bumpkin risen above his station in life.

I find a community in their individual endeavors that goes beyond their clay feet. In their individuals ways, they each surpassed past failures and came through when the shit hit the fan. That's the sort of character I admire.