The Moral Vision
Some Make Themselves, Others Make History
~ 41 ~
A history-making person is quite different.
Emerging from his own shell, he lives not for
himself but for a higher purpose. What matters to
him is principle, not profit. He cares not whether he
himself wins or loses; what is of importance to him
is that his ideal should be served. It is as if he has
detached himself from his own person and pinned
his flag to the needs of humanity as a whole.
In order to become a history-making person there is
one thing that has to be done: one has to stop being
self-making. As soon as a person effaces himself, he
becomes capable of building for the future of
humanity. Such a person lays personal grievances
to one side. As his own self-interest and ambitions
evaporate before his eyes, he shows no reaction, as
if all this were not happening to him at all.
It is people such as these who are destined to forge
human history. They are the ones who, of their own
free will, are concerned about the rest of humanity;
they have no rights to be safeguarded; they have
only responsibilities, which they discharge
whatever the cost to themselves.
