Great personalities who made an impact in the past and created a place in history, in their own rights, will always be remembered! over and over again.
Some of these great personalities dared to bring changes and make a remarkable difference to the usual/common life.
William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)
William Shakespeare, known as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s greatest dramatist. He is regarded as England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon.” His works in English poetry, plays, and drama are famous all over the world through five centuries.
No writer’s living reputation can compare to that of Shakespeare’s. Some of his unforgettable sonnets and plays are Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and comedies like, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Love’s Labour Lost, etc.
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865)
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States (1860), an American statesman and lawyer, a vocal opponent of slavery. During the American Civil War, he led the country through its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis.
He abolished slavery and strengthened the federal government. Through his struggle and perseverance he preserved and modernized the U.S Union. He was the first president in the history of the United States, to be assassinated.
Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?
Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948)
‘The father of nation India’, an icon of simplicity! The man of non-violence, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer who fought for Justice and Human Rights for the downtrodden. An anti-colonial nationalist who practiced and inculcated non-violence.
He led India to win independence from more than 200 years of British Rule. He is one of the greatest inspirations for civil rights and freedom movements. Romain Rolland wrote a book on him in 1924 ‘Mahatma Gandhi.’
Be the change that you wish to see in the world.
Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1953. The twice named prime minister of Great Britain, who led the country to victory from an almost defeat, during the Second World War.
Churchill was an army officer, and writer too, besides being a politician, a Member of Parliament who represented five constituencies during his career. A British leader and statesman, a journalist, historian, biographer, talented painter, and an orator of rare power.
You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.
Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)
Albert Einstein, his explanation of the photoelectric effect won him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. He was one of the two pillars of modern physics. A physicist of Theory, he developed the theory of relativity. His work influenced the philosophy of science.
His mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc^2, is known as ‘the world’s most famous equation.’ He is one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century.
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.
Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977)
Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, one of the most admired figures in the history of the film industry. A British Comedian, recognized as an icon of the silent film era, was an actor, writer, producer, director, and composer.
He became a worldwide star through his screen persona, “The Tramp”, and is widely regarded as the greatest comic artist and one of the most pivotal stars of Cinema. Films like – The Gold Rush, City Lights, Modern Times, The Great Dictator are some of the masterpieces of the man with the toothbrush mustache, bowler hat, and bamboo cane stick.
To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it.
Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980)
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, ‘king of psychological thriller and mystery’. Well-known English film director and producer is also known as “the Master of Suspense”. In the history of cinema, he was one of the most influential and extensively studied filmmakers.
He directed over 50 feature films during his very productive career, which won immense popularity and critical acclaim. His films have a remarkable sense of humor and suspense with the innovative use of film techniques.
The more successful the villain, the more successful the picture.
Mother Teresa (1910 –1997)
Love personified, Nobel Peace Prize winner 1979, the kindest heart and the most loved woman in the world, one of 20th Century’s greatest humanitarians. Commonly known s ‘Mother Teresa’, her real name was Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu.
She was an Albanian-Indian, a Roman Catholic missionary nun. She lived for the poor and the sick, and loved them and cared for them unconditionally. She was a mother to all the needy of Kolkata. After death, she was canonized by the Catholic Church as ‘Saint Teresa of Calcutta.’
If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
Nelson Mandela (1918- 2013)
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, a Nobel Prize winner for Peace in 1993. President of South Africa (1994 – 1999), the first ‘Black’ head of state of the country. Through a fully representative democratic election, he was the first President.
He was a South African revolutionary, anti-apartheid, (a rigid former policy of discriminating the black population, economically and politically.) An activist and philanthropist who fought for human rights around the globe.
When a man is denied the right to live, the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.
Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013)
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, British Prime Minister 1979 – 1990, was a British stateswoman and leader of the Conservative Party. Europe’s first woman prime minister and the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century.
She developed the British economy from statism to liberalism and became, the most renowned British leader after Winston Churchill. She helped to dismantle nationalized industries and social services to people’s liberal body. She was one of the most powerful of prime ministers.
In politics, If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.
Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Nobel Peace prize winner for, combating racial inequality and nonviolent resistance, in October 1964. American civil rights campaigner, the leader who ended the legal discrimination of African Americans in the United States.
He was an American Christian minister and activist who practiced nonviolence and civil disobedience. The most visible spokesperson of the Civil Rights Movement, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi.
I have decided to stick to love…Hate is too great a burden to bear.
Muhammed Ali (1942-2016)
Muhammad Ali, originally Cassius Marcellus Clay, later nicknamed “The Greatest”. The greatest heavyweight boxer ever, he was ranked as the greatest heavyweights of all eras. A professional boxer from America, a social activist, and philanthropist.
He is one of the most significantly celebrated sports figures of the 20th century. He was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship 3 times over. Ali won 56 career matches and lost just 5.
The Service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.
A Living Great Personality
Dalai Lama (since 1938)
Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness, Nobel Peace prize winner 1989, the 14th and current Spiritual and political leader of the Tibetans. The foremost spiritual leader of the school of Tibetan Buddhism is given the Title ’Dalai Lama’ by the Tibetan people.
He is a world Spiritual leader, committed to teaching positive values like forgiveness, tolerance, compassion self-discipline, and contentment. He is a renowned spiritual leader like no other and emphasizes the importance of happiness and world peace and lives a very simple life. Many look upon him for guidance.
If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.
We have lots to learn from some of these very inspiring human ‘Wonders of the World.’
There are many more great people today, who continue to inspire us. Going forward, our future generations will read of some more Great Personalities, of this era, who will bring about significant changes to life. …. and leave an evergreen MARK!!
I am Barbara Mathilda, a lady who walked the earth 60 years in grace. Born and educated in Kolkata, India. I have a very strong Convent School background and professional training in Computer Applications. Worked in very good organizations such as; World Bank, Projects of The American Embassy, Sequoia Capital, CF Italia, Odgers Berndtson and the like.