By Volodymyr Sereda
Stories and images of famous people: Lessons for contemporary society
A single discovery can alter the course of the world. But behind each pivotal breakthrough is always an exceptional person. Some have inspired people by their artwork, while others have contributed to groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
The story of each of such individuals is unique, yet it is marked by a determination to overcome obstacles. In this article, let's delve into the portraits of famous historical persons and uncover the essence of their profound personalities.
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5 famous people and their pictures
Knowledge is humanity's greatest asset, driving evolution. It empowers us to understand, innovate, and solve global issues. History showcases individuals who transformed the world. Read on to discover five extraordinary, famous people and their iconic pictures.
FAQ: What is the formal definition of notable?
Formally, the word "notable" means something prominent to everyone due to its significance. However, each person decides for themselves what is important to them specifically.
Charles Darwin
Before Charles Robert Darwin proposed his theory of "Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection," creationism dominated the scientific community's beliefs, attributing all life to God.
Darwin initially studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh but abandoned it due to ethical concerns. Despite family disappointment and pressure to become a clergyman, he found solace in collecting beetles. His pivotal voyage aboard the HMS Beagle as a naturalist led to five years of meticulous observation, documenting diverse specimens of flora, fauna, and fossils and laying the foundation for his theory through journal entries.
Alan Mathison Turing
In 2024, many are talking about the unique potential of artificial intelligence, but did you know it was Turing who paved the way for this technology?
Preferring science over humanities, he chose King's College over Trinity College, where he conceptualized the Turing machine, a theoretical device solving mathematical problems. By advocating for algorithms over Gödel numbering, he pioneered the first computer. Moreover, he believed any machine could mimic the human brain's behavior.
Turing's mathematical prowess also aided the Allies in WWII, decrypting the German Enigma machine messages. The daily-changing system made decryption challenging. Turing and a team from Bletchley Park analyzed intercepted messages, reconstructing the encryption key and creating the "Bombe" machine.
Virginia Woolf
The youthful face of Virginia Woolf is one of the most iconic images associated with notable figures in feminism.
As a modernist writer, she pioneered a stream of consciousness, crafting non-linear plots and uninterrupted syntax in her works for nuanced portrayal of characters' experiences, a practice unprecedented before Woolf. Her essays and novels critique patriarchal structures, showcasing female potential, with translations in over 50 languages.
FAQ: What is an example of a notable person?
In various fields, notable figures emerge, like Marie Skłodowska-Curie in physics. Her primary achievement was discovering radioactive substances—radium and polonium—that were pivotal for X-ray and radiation therapy development, leading to new cancer treatment methods and saving numerous lives. Despite her radioactive body after death, buried in a lead-lined coffin, Curie's legacy endures. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in her lifetime, inspiring others in scientific breakthroughs.
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking is one of the few famous people who is always seen smiling, despite his tragic fate.
Diagnosed with motor neuron disease at 21, he faced muscle atrophy and paralysis, which confined him to a wheelchair for the rest of his days. Nonetheless, he maintained a passion for cosmology and quantum gravity. Studying black hole thermodynamics, he proposed they emit energy and speculated on the Big Bang's origin—a theory that the Universe could arise from nothingness, detailed in "A Brief History of Time".
J.K. Rowling
Author J.K. Rowling's impact transcends scientific discoveries, inspiring millions to read books. In the UK alone, her book sales surpassed £238 million.
The legendary Harry Potter "The Boy Who Lived" series, born from a chance idea on a train journey from Manchester to London in 1990, was penned on an old typewriter, with the first book "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" published in 1996, now celebrated as one of the best stories worldwide.
FAQ: What is another word for a notable person?
There are numerous words to describe a notable person in English. For example, "prominent," "important," "distinguished," "unusual," "outstanding," "remarkable," "great," "conspicuous," "famous," etc.
Lessons you can learn from famous people's stories and photos
The journey to success and scientific discoveries is filled with obstacles. However tough it may be, it's crucial to learn from them.
FAQ: Who is the most notable person ever?
According to "The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History" by Michael H. Hart, Muhammad is the most notable person ever. He was a great prophet and political leader who founded the Muslim state and became the founder of the Islamic faith, transmitting all his teachings in the Quran.
Overcome self-doubts
Darwin developed his theory of natural selection secretly, realizing that it would inevitably meet resistance from the church, whose authority was significant in society at that time. Nevertheless, he persisted in pursuing his goal. In 1859, when his book "On the Origin of Species" was published, religious circles reacted vehemently to it. Church officials accused Darwin of atheism. But the scientist continued to defend his ideas.
Be decisive
Alan Turing with his team worked on deciphering the "Enigma" for six years. But thanks to painstaking efforts, the Bombe machine could decrypt up to 3,000 German messages per day, allowing them to obtain crucial information and win important battles.
Find your creative expression even in a struggle
After her mother's death, Virginia Woolf suffered from depressive episodes, and the writer's family labeled her as insane. Psychiatry of the time could not help this decisive woman. Nevertheless, Woolf found inner strength in her work.
Don’t limit yourself (even by physical boundaries)
When doctors told Hawking about his diagnosis, the scientist fell into depression and saw no reason to continue his studies. Walking was difficult for him, and his speech was unclear. To pursue his career, Hawking learned to communicate differently. Initially, he used eyebrow movements to select letters on a spelling card, and later he obtained the "Equalizer" program, allowing him to choose phrases.
Never give up
Rowling's manuscript for "Harry Potter" was rejected by publishers 12 times before being accepted by Bloomsbury. A literary agent advised her to find a daytime job, as he believed she had little chance of making money from children's books.
FAQ: How can you become notable?
Becoming notable often demands deep commitment to a cause and unwavering principles, sometimes necessitating sacrifices of promising opportunities. History exemplifies this truth. For example, Mahatma Gandhi abandoned a legal career to lead India's independence movement, enduring four arrests. Vincent van Gogh, hailed as a great artist, suffered lifelong poverty and died tragically at 37 in a psychiatric hospital, by his own hand.
Conclusion
Great people have left their mark on history, forever altering the perception of the world. This journey is always fraught with challenges and sacrifices, as significant events never unfold effortlessly. Each of these narratives teaches other people the importance of self-belief, maintaining a clear stance, and persevering in the face of adversity.
