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10. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon's legacy has been so polarized—either vilified or glorified—that he no longer seems entirely human. The Napoleonic Wars are among the few historical events named after a single individual. A conqueror, a general commanding armies in the hundreds of thousands, one could easily assume that such a man would be hardened to the suffering of his soldiers. One quote often attributed to him reflects this presumed attitude: 'A soldier will fight long and hard for a piece of ribbon.' Yet, in his memoirs, Napoleon recounts a moment following the Battle of Castiliogne, where he encountered a dog standing over its fallen owner:
'Without shedding a tear, I had ordered the deaths of thousands. Yet, in that moment, I was deeply moved, deeply moved to tears. And what stirred me? The sorrow of a single dog.'
Interestingly, it appears that Napoleon himself was taken aback by the emotional response he experienced. The sentiment seems genuine, especially considering he was exiled on the island of St. Helena at the time. Who would he have hoped to impress with such a tale in those circumstances? At best, it might have resonated with a few dog enthusiasts, but they hardly had the power to rewrite history.
9. Martin Luther
Although Martin Luther eventually developed a harshly anti-Semitic viewpoint, he still earns respect—even from atheists like Christopher Hitchens—for his bold opposition to the corruption within the Vatican. Hitchens praised Luther for 'setting a standard for intellectual and moral courage.' You might expect a man so dedicated to biblical scholarship to be solemn, dignified, and somewhat rigid. Then, you come across his description of his battle with the Vatican in a letter to a friend:
'If I break wind in Wittenberg, they smell it in Rome.'
It's certainly a striking quote, as it both grounds Luther in the reality of human nature and highlights the formidable adversaries he was challenging. In fact, Luther was known for his share of blunt and crude remarks. For instance, when discussing the struggle between the desire for chastity and the natural impulses of the body, Luther famously remarked, 'To put it bluntly but truthfully, if it doesn’t go into a woman, it goes into your shirt.' Regardless of his flaws, Luther certainly knew how to speak directly to the common person.
8. Harriet Tubman
For generations, Americans have been taught about the brave and inspiring efforts of Harriet Tubman. They know about her 19 daring missions to the South to rescue enslaved individuals, ultimately freeing 300 people between 1849 and 1860. But perhaps even more remarkable—and lesser known—is her leadership during the Civil War, when she led an assault into Confederate-held territory, freeing 700 slaves. Yet, what’s often shared in schools is a more polished and simplified version of her deeds, which a single quote captures:
'Dead negroes tell no tales—You go on or you die.'
The harsh reality for some enslaved people making their way to freedom along the Underground Railroad was that they sometimes had to face the barrel of Tubman’s gun. Heroism isn’t always glamorous—when her ‘passengers’ became overwhelmed by fear, Tubman had no time for gentle encouragement. Unfortunately, Tubman’s words were never captured on tape, meaning they couldn't go on to become one of the most iconic samples in hip-hop history.
7. Adolf Hitler
Given that Adolf Hitler is widely regarded as the embodiment of racism, it’s almost impossible for us today to imagine a connection with him. But in his 1925 autobiography Mein Kampf, Hitler offers some intriguing thoughts on his early encounters with anti-Semitism while in Vienna:
'The tone, particularly that of the Viennese anti-Semitic press, seemed to me unworthy of the cultural tradition of a great nation.'
Later in his often-banned book, Hitler reflects on his early views of Dr. Karl Lueger, a figure who would later be pivotal in his shift toward extreme anti-Semitism.
'Dr. Karl Lueger and the Christian Social Party. When I arrived in Vienna, I was opposed to both. The man and his movement appeared 'reactionary' to me.'
To hear one of history’s most notorious zealots admit that he initially opposed the very beliefs he would later champion adds an unsettling dimension to his ideology. It serves as a chilling reminder that, under certain conditions, even those of us who strongly reject such hatred could be vulnerable to manipulation.
6. Penn Jillette
While not as globally renowned as figures like Hitler or Napoleon, Penn Jillette, alongside his partner Teller, has earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, authored multiple bestselling books, and hosted the Peabody Award-winning show 'Bullshit!' Throughout his career, he’s been a vocal advocate for atheism, which is no surprise considering he titled his autobiography God No! Signs You May Already Be An Atheist. His critiques of biblical teachings have even gone viral online.
'I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize…How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?'
This isn’t a quote from his youth, before he read the bible and turned against Christianity—it’s from 2008. In context, Jillette’s point is clear: he believes that people should openly express their beliefs, even those he disagrees with. This belief led to one of America’s most famous atheists being aired in churches, including those affiliated with the Campus Crusade for Christ, the largest religious charity in the country. It’s doubtful Richard Dawkins will ever achieve that level of exposure.
5. Abraham Lincoln
Mytour has made some bold statements regarding the Great Emancipator in the past. But we didn’t expect a quote from him that could seem to tarnish his legacy. However, on September 18, 1858, Lincoln made a remark that any politician would probably come to regret:
“I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races… I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.”
So, does this make Honest Abe a white supremacist? That quote certainly makes it appear so, which has sparked much debate among scholars. Their conclusion? It’s complicated, as the quote is from the pivotal 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates, a time when Lincoln likely said whatever it took to win over the crowd. As for his true views on the 'superior position assigned to the white race,' it’s still hard to reconcile the man who endorsed the Emancipation Proclamation and black voting rights with a modern white supremacist.
4. Mother Teresa
If you weren't around in the 90s, here’s a glimpse: It wasn’t just the time of iconic summer blockbusters and groundbreaking video games, but also when an Albanian-born nun in India stood out among the rest. Mother Teresa, with her Nobel Peace Prize and her journey toward sainthood, captured the hearts of millions around the world.
However, there is a potential snag in her story: a quote that could land her in some serious controversy.
“Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear.”
Here’s where things take an unexpected turn: Mother Teresa, faced with the relentless poverty of the world, ultimately lost her faith during her later years. And when I say 'lost her faith,' I mean entirely. Take a look at this for further context:
“What is the purpose of my labor? If there is no God, then there can be no soul. And if there is no soul, then, Jesus, You are also not true.”
On the bright side, if there's any Pope who might be open to making an agnostic a saint, it would probably be the current one leading the Roman Catholic Church.
3. Joseph Stalin
For the final entry in our list, we selected a figure whose inspirational quotes somehow lose their motivational power once you consider the name behind them. How can anything truly uplifting come from Joseph Stalin, the infamous Soviet dictator whose reign resulted in the deaths of millions of his fellow citizens? Still, there was one interviewer who managed to hit a nerve by asking how much of Stalin’s success was due to luck. His response was both revealing and chilling:
“I believe in one thing only, the power of the human will.”
Is it just us, or does that quote make a strange kind of sense when placed in the context of a Soviet despot who built his own personality cult? And let’s be honest—if Stalin was determined to be the world's greatest villain, he sure gave Hitler a serious challenge. If that's not sheer willpower, then we don’t know what is.
2. Mahatma Gandhi
When imagining Gandhi, humor isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind. While he did occasionally deliver sharp remarks, such as his famous observation that Western civilization 'sounds like a very interesting idea,' these moments were rare. Nevertheless, the Mahatma himself acknowledged that humor was a key to maintaining his sanity:
'Without a sense of humor, I would have long ago taken my own life.'
One thing’s for sure: if Gandhi had started a stand-up comedy routine with that line, he would have certainly captured everyone's attention. But what kind of humor? It's important to understand so that we don't risk another Gandhi feeling the need to end his life.
1. Benjamin Franklin
Fox News often emphasizes the opinions of the Founding Fathers on topics ranging from school prayer to gun rights, even though many of the issues they discuss were not relevant in their time. It's reasonable to assume that someone like Benjamin Franklin would align with some of Glenn Beck's more outlandish claims, like the idea that 10 percent of all Muslims are terrorists. After all, Franklin, the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence, grew up in an era steeped in racial prejudice. But surprisingly, he takes a different stance...
"Even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at his service."
It almost seems like Franklin is advocating for freedom of religion, free speech, and the right to peacefully assemble, all in a single sentence. And to think this came from a man who wasn't even an American citizen at the time. Considering the nation he helped form still relied on the practice of slavery, that's quite progressive by today's standards.
