I've always found the idol thing to be so silly...I do have an idol I pick to talk about when necessary. However I admire him for his academic achievements which are quite impressive...his job title, etc
I admire a kind personality, but it's not what I idolize. I idolize academic achievements and that is really it
My dad is my idol, he is a business man always driving from job site to job site overseeing his operation in construction, then a few years later he bought a building and made a lumber yard and home furnishings store. Tools and supplies for building homes. and he is always trying to one up himself every time. I believe he is a very creative opportunist. i use to follow him around for some life experience, I still hang with him. now watching this man operate and manage multi transactions, dealings, contracts and favours, it just blew my mind how connected he is...I was hooked on the way business was held, there is not a month goes by where a new job site isn't being built. it's insane.
My father is my idol who is yours?
I don't have any idols, but there are things about people that I admire, even when I find myself in disagreement with who they are, fundamentally.
I admire Diogenes of Sinope for his vehement disregard of convention and oppression. Diogenes Laërtius writes of him that "He was seized and dragged off to King Philip, and being asked who he was, replied, 'A spy upon your insatiable greed,'" "When scolded for masturbating in public, he said "I wish it were as easy to banish hunger by rubbing my belly," "He was going into a theatre, meeting face to face those who were coming out, and being asked why, 'This,' he said, 'is what I practice doing all my life.'"
I admire Alcibiades for his insatiable ambitiousness (to the point of recklessness), and his ability to adapt. The man was a prolific orator, statesman and general of Athens who was driven out by a blundered military campaign and an internal coup. He escaped to Sparta, where he successfully conducted campaigns against Athens, until he had to flee because it was coming to the surface that he was banging the king's wife while he was away. He then moved to Persia, winning the favor of the sartrap helping to conduct campaigns against Athens and Sparta, and using his position there as bargaining chips to return to Athens, which he did successfully. The man's life was absolutely crazy, and he has been regarded by as a historical example of a classical psychopath. Said of him:
"As in particular to Anytus, the son of Anthemion, one who was very fond of him, and invited him to an entertainment which he had prepared for some strangers. Alcibiades refused the invitation; but, having drunk to excess at his own house with some of his companions, went thither with them to play some frolic; and, standing at the door of the room where the guests were enjoying themselves, and seeing the tables covered with gold and silver cups, he commanded his servants to take away the one-half of them, and carry them to his own house; and then, disdaining so much as to enter into the room himself, as soon as he had done this, went away. The company was indignant, and exclaimed at his rude and insulting conduct; Anytus, however, said, on the contrary, he had shown great consideration and tenderness in taking only a part when he might have taken all."
I admire Isaac Newton for his obsessive interest in understanding reality. The man invented (on his own) calculus, physics, and equations for gravity and light, over a period of a few years in isolation. Yet he did not share any of his findings until prompted to do so by others. He was simply content in understanding. As he once said, "I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."
I suppose I could go on about other people too, but this is probably already tl;dr material.
"History is written by the victors."
"In politics, stupidity is not a handicap"
"A picture is worth a thousand words"
"Never Interrupt your enemy while he makes a mistake"
"Death is nothing, but to live inglorious is to die daily."
"Impossible is a word only found in the dictionary of fools."
"A leader is a dealer in hope"
"If you want anything done well, do it yourself."
"You don't reason with intellectuals, you kill them."
"Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune or a temporary loss"
"A man will fight harder for his interests than his rights."
"If you start to take Vienna, Take Vienna."