I'm just wondering who you would describe as the "most inspirational person in history" and why?

I've been trying to narrow it down and haven't had any luck. I have personal heroes (Lincoln) and favorites (Joan of Arc), but I'm not sure I could label them the most inspirational in history.

What do you think?

This is in no way a homework help or a school paper (Have my Masters, done with school... for now! ;) ) I'm simply a historian who loves history!

This is a difficult because there are some many. I'm going to go with Nikola Tesla. Some people call him the father of electricity. Could you even imagine a world without electricity?

I like the inventors.. only problem lot of the inventors/scientist heroes stand on the shoulders of other inventor/scientist so its debatable what their level of importance is.

Nelson Mandella,

Because he never lost the faith. They threw him in jail for 27 years, while in jail he worked to get his law degree and did get it. He came out when South African President Deklerck pardoned him and let him out, then they both received the Noble peace prize award and then he was elected President of South Africa. Now that's a humble man in my eyes. I don't know if I could keep the faith for 27 years and then become president and forgive the people who put me in prison.

Many here I assume would say Jesus. My favorite is George Washington. The Brits might say Winston Churchill. Another perhaps overlooked is Marcus Aurelius ,Roman Emperor and Philosopher .There are really too many to narrow down to one .

Nicki Reading comprehension skills are a good thing. Clearly I said a Brit MIGHT say Churchill. But you avitar displays where you find inspiration.

I will say Churchill: "I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization." June 18, 1940
Can you imagine Hillary or Obama uttering such words? They would have been under the table with Chamberlain.

Tom your bang on the money she may have been a dumb blonde but she knew how to make money and people still idolise her even now

Mother Teresa -

That was an easy one. If I could only be so unselfish. She never judged, did things out of love.

I can't even find the words.

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Originally Posted by Allheart

Mother Teresa -

That was an easy one. If I could only be so unselfish. She never judged, did things out of love.

I can't even find the words.

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Mother Teresa is one of my favorite persons, an icon. In a way, her actions speak louder than words.
So, I'm a glutton; and have another that, after I heard or read it, never forgot: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Churchill went on to say, in a universal way, comparing WW II to WW I: "In the last war millions of men fought by hurling masses of steel at one another. Prodigious slaughter was the consequence. In this war nothing of this kind has yet appeared. It is a conflict of strategy, organisation, technical apparatus, science, mechanics, and morale." It reminds one of the few casualties suffered by U.S. (U.N.) forces in overthrowing Saddam, in the face of predictions by naysayers of numerous casualties and body bags; also, another conveniently forgotten fact at this point in the Bush presidency.
Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few | 1940-1949 | Guardian Century

Muhammad Ali. Too hard to narrow it down to one.

My very favorites.
Mother Teresa
Princess Di
JFK

Hhhmmm... interesting question HC , too many answers

Ok well Mother Theresa is an obvious I think , then people like Mark Twain , Thomas Edison , Sigmund Freud just to name a few.

... oh and my Dad.

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Originally Posted by tomder55

many here I assume would say Jesus. My favorite is George Washington. The Brits might say Winston Churchill. Another perhaps overlooked is Marcus Aurelius ,Roman Emperor and Philosopher .There are really too many to narrow down to one .

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Winston Churchill was not someone who we were taught about in school yes we did about WW2 but to be honest more about Hitler than churchill.
I bet if I asked any of my kids or there friends who churchill was they would say I do not know. But they would know about Hitler

Well read up about him then . Without his inspirational leadership England would've gone down to defeat.

I know that this thread has been going on a little while now, and that you've sort of intimated as to what you mean by asking the question. But, for clarification, I just want to ask if you are asking this question because of wanting to know who we think is the most inspirational person in history in a global sense or on just a personal level?

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Originally Posted by tomder55

Well read up about him then . Without his inspirational leadership England would've gone down to defeat.

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Tom I do not want to read up on him my point was you say some Brits might say Churchill but kids of today and when I was growing up were not taught about churchill I suppose that is a bit of a shame really considering who he was and what he did.
But my 11 year old daughter has just done a good couple of weeks work on The Beatles do not see any point in that myself although I suppose some fans might might disagree.

Who was more important in history the beatles or Winston Churchill?

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Originally Posted by Clough

I know that this thread has been going on a little while now, and that you've sort of intimated as to what you mean by asking the question. But, for clarification, I just want to ask if you are asking this question because of wanting to know who we think is the most inspirational person in history in a global sense or on just a personal level?

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Good question!

I'm a historian and I love learning about what makes people who they are - whether a people group, a nation, or an individual.

For me, inspiration comes from a wide array of people, events, writings, and actions.

This question is simply a personal quest to learn more about what inspires people all over the world. I'm not asking from an American or a British (or Australian, M! :) ) viewpoint, but from a person wanting to know what inspires you.

Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Originally Posted by tomder55

nicki Reading comprehension skills are a good thing. Clearly I said a Brit MIGHT say Churchill. But you avitar displays where you find inspiration.

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Wow Tom I just saw this one.

First, Nicki has found a nice place in my heart.

I am sadly surprised at this response from you Tom. Maybe just a bad day?

Your little dig is beneath you. Sorry, I was just taken back and then it is compounded, by saying it to someone I find to be so special. Which is my Nicki girl.

Tom, just for as much as you and I have discussed other topics, I know in no way you meant it to be hurtful, but it's not something that normally comes from you.

And franlky I love Marllyn. And I bet she was far smarter then was let on, and something inside tells me she suffered great heartaches, tremendous ones, and yet, was able to keep smiling.

I find that to be inspirational.

Oh Tom sorry - I've had not the best day and if I jumped wrongly I am sorry.

I adore both you and Nicki.

Sorry guys. I'm in Fog land a bit.

Sorry Tom -