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About this quote

What does it mean?
Great individuals act as divine revelations recorded through history.
In plain terms
Great men are like chapters in a divine book of history.
What can you take from it?
View history through the lens of influential leaders.

Where it applies

  • historical study
  • leadership analysis
  • biography

Putting it to work

  • studying biographies
  • analyzing historical trends

Questions to consider

  • Who are the great men of your time?
  • Is history divine or human?

Another view

It overlooks collective action and anonymous contributions.

More from Thomas Carlyle

  1. Alas! the fearful Unbelief is unbelief in yourself.

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  2. Love not Pleasure; love God.

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  3. With stupidity and sound digestion man may front much.

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