Benjamin Franklin

(Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky, painted by Benjamin West, circa 1816, [Public Domain] via Creative Commons)

While there is a long list of impressive founding fathers from the era of the United States Revolution, very few even come close to the brilliance of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). The lifestyle and mindset displayed by Franklin served as an early model for American character and continues to be an inspiration for the  ‘American Dream.’ His diligence and unending drive for knowledge and industry continue to enamor those who read his Autobiography and learn about his life. His rags-to-riches story has given hope to generations of people who want to build a better life for themselves through sheer wit and willpower. Over the course of his life, Benjamin Franklin underwent a tremendous transformation, from a poorly educated boy who ran away from his family, to a world-acclaimed statesman, inventor, scientist and diplomat who was received as a guest by at least five kings.

Apuleius (125-180 CE)

(Public Domain sketch of Apuleius)

The Roman author, and minor regional statesman, Apuleius (125-180 CE), is best known today for his hilarious book, The Golden Ass (also called Metamorphoses). His imaginative tale details the journey of a man named Lucius, who is transformed into a donkey through magic, and must suffer a long string of odd and humorous events throughout the Roman Empire. The Golden Ass was likely written within the last twenty years of Apuleius’ life, when he had settled down in Carthage.

Confucius (6th and 5th Century BCE)

(Confucius. Portrait by Wu Daozi (685-758), Tang Dynasty, [Public Domain] via Creative Commons)

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 CE)

(Bust of Marcus Aurelius c. Antonine period, AD 161-169, photographed by Ad Meskens, via Creative Commons)

Martin Luther (1483-1546 CE)

(Portrait of Martin Luther as an Augustinian Monk, from the Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) [Public domain], via Creative Commons) 

Mencius

  (Mencius. ETC Wehrner's Myth and Legend, Gutenberg and Commons)

Like many other ancient Chinese writers, historians can only make educated guesses about Mencius' life. The collection of his writings, known simply as Mencius, is divided into seven books, and the descriptions and events within the work give some detail as to the time period Mencius lived in, and the various Chinese states he visited. He was probably alive during the later half of the 4th century BCE. The many ancient states in which Mencius may have wandered about, spreading his interpretation of Confucian philosophy, include Liang, Ch'i, Yen, Tsou, T'eng and Lu.

Mo Tzu

The ancient Chinese philosopher and theologian, Mo Tzu, lived in the 5th century BCE, after the death of Confucius and before the birth of Mencius. No one knows exactly where he was born, but some sources suggest he may have been a native of the ancient states of Sung or Lu. Nevertheless, he left his homeland and became a wanderer, traveling the many kingdoms of China to spread his ideas about life and spirituality. 

Chuang Tzu

The ancient Daoist philosopher, Chuang Tzu, was one of the most brilliantly witty thinkers of his day, and his work still is influential. He was born during the 4th century BCE, in the state of Meng (modern Honan). He was a contemporary of the Confucian scholar, Mencius.