Hero-worship is the deepest root of all; the tap-root, from which in a great degree all the rest were nourished and grown . . . Worship of a Hero is transcendent admiration of a Great Man. I say great men are still admirable; I say there is, at bottom, nothing else admirable! No nobler feeling than this of admiration for one higher than himself dwells in the breast of men.

Summary

This quote suggests that hero worship is the fundamental essence from which all other forms of admiration and adoration stem. The admiration of a hero represents an elevated form of respect for a great individual. The quote asserts that great men are worthy of admiration and that there is nothing else more worthy of admiration than individuals who exhibit greatness. It concludes by stating that the noblest feeling a person can possess is the admiration for someone who is superior to themselves.

Topics