their lives are the testimony to the fact that the will, (or the resolve, or the grit, call it whatever) matters far more than trivial things like IQ or inherited privilege and wealth.

dont get me wrong. some of these great men of history, like hitler or stalin, were unquestionably monsters. but that is beside the point. the point is that what astonishing level of resolve these men, born of humble circumstances, must have possessed that they could reach the pinnacles of power where they decided the fate of million.

i once read a book called the flatland. it discusses the possibility of there being higher dimensions in the universe that we can’t directly observe. it raises an interests idea that the strength of the personality may be the measure of a person that exists in the fourth dimension. it cannot be observed directly, but makes all the difference by infusing the person with a force of personality..whatever…

napoleon is obviously the archetype of the great man of history. he was’t exactly born in humble circumstances, but even from his starting point his achievements were awe-inspiring.

ending with some of my favorite napoleon quotes.

soldiers, 40 centuries are looking upon you.
(on the eve of battle of pyramids)

never interrupt an enemy when he is making a mistake.

he (a general) may be good, but is he lucky too?

it all comes down to a bit of luck in the end.

what is history but a fable agreed upon.

after me apocalypse.