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Theodore Roosevelt - Fortitude

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“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” ―  Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt forged his character like a blacksmith forges a sword - only through exposure to the purifying fires and beatings of life, could he mould himself into the man he wanted to become. The foundation of his fortitude was found in his overcoming of great hardships; his greatness came from his embracing of difficulty. Born in the metropolis of New York City, on October 27th, 1858. His father, Theodore Roosevelt Sr, was a businessman and philanthropist, a figure of emulation for young Theodore. However, as a young boy, Theodore Roosevelt showed only signs of a sickly boy, in need of constant nurturing. His debilitating asthma and general poor health left him home-schooled; isolated and in pain… the perfect ammunition
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Leonardo Da Vinci - Focus

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Ostinato Rigore – Relentless Rigour The 15th-century Renaissance provided fertile soil for the most inspiring and innovative souls in human history. A culture with the aim of returning to primary sources: questioning everything, rediscovering lost knowledge and providing artwork of staggering beauty. Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Montaigne, Raphael… Men of incredible vision and intellectual fortitude; However, the man that best represents and embodies all that is ‘renaissance’, is Leonardo Da Vinci. Born out of wedlock, in a small Tuscan city called Vinci, on April 15 th , 1452, little was expected of young Leonardo. Being a bastard, Leonardo could not inherit his father’s lands or last name, hence, he was known as Leonardo Da Vinci - Leonardo from Vinci. Behind the success of the Renaissance was the use of patronage and apprenticeships. Noble and wealthy individuals would pay, to support and promote skilled artists and intellectuals. Da Vinci became the apprentice of Andrea Del Verrocchi
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Julius Caesar - Ambition

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 The Roman Empire was forged in blood and brutality. The great Roman historian Tacitus put it best… ‘they make a desert, and call it peace' After 400 years of ruthless military conquest, the roman republic had expanded from 3 square miles of land to 720,000 by 100BC - becoming the most powerful state in the Mediterranean We can find the essence of Roman ambition and drive in its mythological origin. The twin brothers: Romulus and Remus, both nurtured by a She-Wolf. Their disagreement over where to establish their society led to fratricide, Romulus killed Remus and went on to establish Rome. By looking at our etymology, the origin of words, we can best understand Roman culture. Our concept of virtue is derived from the Latin ‘Virtus’, which is itself derived from ‘Vir’, the Latin for man. The Romans worshipped the God ‘Virtus’ as the archetypal representation of all the qualities that a Roman man should possess, the qualities of; Virility, Valour,
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Pericles - Oratory

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"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others" - Pericles In the glorious and Ancient Greek city-state of Athens (495BC), a noblewoman named Agariste dreamt that she would give birth to a lion. On one fateful night, her son was born; Pericles, a lion made flesh. This heroic age of 5 th -century Athens BC, predicated on the values of glory, honour and loyalty, produced historical titans; Hippocrates, Sophocles and Democritus, to name a few. Yet it was Pericles ‘The Olympian’, through guile and fortitude, that carved himself into the history books and produced, what we now know as – The Periclean Age. He ruled as a Strategos, an elected military general who held power in Athens, for 29 years straight. To leave Athens as superior to all other nations was his aim. Through social reform, ruthless military leadership and grand building projects, including the Parthenon upon the Acropolis; Pericles would provide justification
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Miyamoto Musashi - Acceptance

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Known to the Japanese as Kensei, "sword saint", Myiamoto Musashi is arguably the greatest swordsman to have ever lived.  Born into 16th-century Japan, Musashi won his first duel at 13. After tasting victory, Musashi became hellbent on becoming the best warrior in the realm. He ventured across Japan as a Ronin, a masterless samurai, challenging great warriors along the way. At 20, he disgraced the prestigious Yoshioka Clan in Kyoto, by defeating three of their warriors in single combat. He led clans into battles, he started his own dojo teaching his own fighting style and even defeated his nemesis Sasaki Johiro, using a wooden sword made from one of his oars. Masashi retired at 59, undefeated and with over 60 duels to his name.  So why was Musashi such a great fighter? And what can he teach us about how we should live our own lives?  Most of us are not feared swordsmen. Nonetheless, Musashi provides clear insight into the nature of discipline and mastery, that are universa
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