The guys who did the moon landings. What an amazing display of engineering and courage.
They don't make guys like that anymore...
Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
171–180 of 240 posts
Re: Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
#172Noam Chomksy.
Re: Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
#173Leonardo da Vinci because he didn't limit himself to the art/science divide.
Re: Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
#174Emmeline Pankhurst, because without her activities, and their effect on society, I would never have had the chance to achieve what I have. Also my grandmother; entrepreneur, politician and pillar of her local society.
(I felt this list needed more oestrogen, though both of the above are completely genuine. I'd add Thatcher, but I don't think I could survive the pitchforks - nevertheless, I do admire what she achieved.)
Re: Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
#175George Washington. The one of two people in all of history I know of who truely didn't want power. After the war the British Monarch asked what Washington wanted to do; he was then informed that he planed to return to his farm (which he did) upon which the king commented that if he did that he would be the greatest man in the world. You have to be some person to get your greatest enemy to say that you are the greates…
The other person being, presumably, Cincinnatus?
Yes.
Re: Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
#176Eckart Wintzen
http://extent.nl/about-eckart/
Unfortunately he's no longer.
Re: Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
#177Bill Watterson (creator of Calvin and Hobbes). He created an epic masterpiece, never sold out, and left at the top of his game. He achieved fame without being drawn into celebrity, and his ideas have permeated our culture in a deep and wonderful way.
Bill Watterson had an ability to capture such emotion and life like expression with a small 2d comic strip like no other comic or graphic I've ever seen.
The guy was amazing, and I love that he lives as a recluse in a town that won't give him up to the media either. In fact, not many people even know what he looks like anymore from what I've read.
The never selling out part is also awesome. He refused to allow even one Hobbes stuffed tiger to be made because it would devalue his character...simply amazing, he really did it for the art.
Re: Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
#178My grandfather. You guys have probably never heard of him, but he rocked.
Definitely second this, my grandfather was 98lbs wet, and the kindest person I've ever known.
Quiet, calm, assertive and wise...he's the reason I can't shake this desire to start my own business. He started a business in the 50s with minimal resources and grew it for 50 years before it was sold in 2000. I still remember him and my father paying me less than minimum wage (at the time was $5.15ish maybe?) to sweep the floors and handle trash and pick items....I miss that building, and I really wish I was older and could have talked to him more seriously before he died.
Re: Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
#179The Woz for being the hacker he is and being different from other Steve.(I'm not sure. Few people came in mind, RMS, Linus, My friend geekaholic, But Woz was strong.)
Re: Ask HN: Whom do you admire most?
#180George Foreman....because without him I'd have to use my barbecue ALL the time