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Empyrean444
Guest
I really think it depends on the specific situation: there are times when "great men" have very little effect, and other forces are doing most of the work in moving the wheels of history (I think this to be most situations). It is possible, though, for the individual to have a gargantuan impact on very rare occasions (for example, I think we can attribute Hannibal's battelfield successes mostly to his personal genius, rather than, for instance, a superior logistical system or an overall superior army).
Generally though (esp. in ancient conceptions) the role of the 'great man' is misleadingly overaccentuated.
Generally though (esp. in ancient conceptions) the role of the 'great man' is misleadingly overaccentuated.