Who's Your Favorite Historical Figure?

[thesummerqueen]

I mean do people have to be perfect?

[The Grand Nudger]

Only practically, in every way.

[paulpablo]

I mean do people have to be perfect?

Not perfect but just not raped anyone or been excessively violent towards anyone without provocation. Or stole things excessively.

[FatAndFaithless]

Well..most people haven't done that.

[abaris]

I mean do people have to be perfect?

You'd have to define the favorite in your OP then.

There are many interesting people in history. Hitler, for example, interests me to no end, but obviously I wouldn't call him my favorite.

There are also many people who made history. The above bastard among them, but only the most glaring example.

There are no people in history I admire. Admiration would really require a perfect person. I never found one.

If one of these questions are asked, I always go with artists. They have contributed to society instead of trying to destroy it or bend it to suit their own preferences. I never would choose any politician, leader, soldier, philosopher even, since they may have contributed some, but there's almost always some dark aspect to them. A dark aspect that influenced the world in a negative way. As opposed to artists and their possible human vices.

[thesummerqueen]

And that's fine. I just didn't realize that people had to be some paragon of excellence in order to be admirable, according to his long explanation.

I'd be fine with someone saying they love some evil twat because he/she was purely evil. I get that.

[paulpablo]

And that's fine. I just didn't realize that people had to be some paragon of excellence in order to be admirable, according to his long explanation.

I'd be fine with someone saying they love some evil twat because he/she was purely evil. I get that.

Which explanation?

I don't get how someone can love someone for being evil. I get how you could find their character interesting.

[abaris]

And that's fine. I just didn't realize that people had to be some paragon of excellence in order to be admirable, according to his long explanation.

You know there are certain keywords I'm using with the utmost care. Admiration is one of them. I may be nitpicking, but I can like something without admiring it. Admiration, for me at least, defines something perfect. I've never found anyone to admire, but lots I like.

The other extreme would be hate. I've yet to find anyone to really hate, since there are always mittigating facors involved.

[Thumpalumpacus]

It's a tie, for me -- Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln. Both men capable of great heights, possessed of deep flaws, guiding an entire nation through an existential struggle, flung aside in the end. Wisdom, oratory, and the common touch, all rolled up inside them. Failures often enough to be unafraid of it.

[The Grand Nudger]

And that's fine. I just didn't realize that people had to be some paragon of excellence in order to be admirable, according to his long explanation.

I'd be fine with someone saying they love some evil twat because he/she was purely evil. I get that.

Which explanation?

I don't get how someone can love someone for being evil. I get how you could find their character interesting.

Simple enough, purity of form.  Take Aaron accused of general villainy in Titus Andronicus.  Not a historical figure......but a historical stereotype of literary fame.  

What if I do not? as, indeed, I do not; 
Yet, for I know thou art religious 
And hast a thing within thee called conscience, 2210
With twenty popish tricks and ceremonies, 
Which I have seen thee careful to observe, 
Therefore I urge thy oath; for that I know 
An idiot holds his bauble for a god 
And keeps the oath which by that god he swears, 2215
To that I'll urge him: therefore thou shalt vow 
By that same god, what god soe'er it be, 
That thou adorest and hast in reverence, 
To save my boy, to nourish and bring him up; 
Or else I will discover nought to thee.

and-

 Indeed, I was their tutor to instruct them: 

That codding spirit had they from their mother, 

As sure a card as ever won the set; 2235

That bloody mind, I think, they learn'd of me, 

As true a dog as ever fought at head. 

Well, let my deeds be witness of my worth. 

I train'd thy brethren to that guileful hole 

Where the dead corpse of Bassianus lay: 2240

I wrote the letter that thy father found 

And hid the gold within the letter mention'd, 

Confederate with the queen and her two sons: 

And what not done, that thou hast cause to rue, 

Wherein I had no stroke of mischief in it? 2245

I play'd the cheater for thy father's hand, 

And, when I had it, drew myself apart 

And almost broke my heart with extreme laughter: 

I pry'd me through the crevice of a wall 

When, for his hand, he had his two sons' heads; 2250

Beheld his tears, and laugh'd so heartily, 

That both mine eyes were rainy like to his : 

And when I told the empress of this sport, 

She swooned almost at my pleasing tale, 
And for my tidings gave me twenty kisses.

cont.

Ay, that I had not done a thousand more. 
Even now I curse the day—and yet, I think, 2260
Few come within the compass of my curse,— 
Wherein I did not some notorious ill, 
As kill a man, or else devise his death, 
Ravish a maid, or plot the way to do it, 
Accuse some innocent and forswear myself, 2265
Set deadly enmity between two friends, 
Make poor men's cattle break their necks; 
Set fire on barns and hay-stacks in the night, 
And bid the owners quench them with their tears. 
Oft have I digg'd up dead men from their graves, 2270
And set them upright at their dear friends' doors, 
Even when their sorrows almost were forgot; 
And on their skins, as on the bark of trees, 
Have with my knife carved in Roman letters, 
'Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead.' 2275
Tut, I have done a thousand dreadful things 
As willingly as one would kill a fly, 
And nothing grieves me heartily indeed 
But that I cannot do ten thousand more.

Any questions?

For you, Summer...am I incarnate of some elemental evil? Desire perhaps....good god I desire......lol.............