The Measure of a Man

When examining a life, how do we judge its merit? Was the person a hero, a villain, or somewhere in between? From ancient times, people have opined on standards for a man’s character. Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius said, “The measure of a man is the worth of the things he cares about.” Nineteenth-century American philosopher, William James, said simply that effort determined a man’s measure. President Joe Biden had a folksier take. “My dad always said, ‘Champ, the measure of a man is not how often he is knocked down, but how quickly he gets up.’” Graydon Carter, the Canadian ...