Interesting stories from the life of great people that can inspire. Prominent citizens of Russia: list, biographies, interesting facts and achievements Message about any famous person

Many famous people have persistently tried to hide some of the facts of their lives, but persistent myths have developed about some of them. For example, "the ugliest woman in history" turned out to be a rather pretty lady with a very determined character. And another, no less determined woman - the Queen of Great Britain - loved her friend so much that she ordered a statue to be erected in his honor.

We found some interesting stories from the life famous people starting from royalty from the distant past and ending with those who lived with us at the same time.

Duchess Margherita Maultash was not at all "the ugliest woman in the world"
According to popular belief, the 14th-century Countess of Tyrol and Duchess of Bavaria Margaret Maultasch (Margarete Maultasch) is considered "the ugliest woman in history." As a “proof” of this statement, the portrait that you now see in front of you, and the very nickname of Margarita, often acts. It is only one letter different from the German word Maultasche - "dumpling", or literally "purse mouth".

However, some researchers believe that the word "maultash" did not mean the duchess's ugly appearance, but came from the name of her castle in South Tyrol. As for the portrait, it was painted by the Flemish painter Quentin Masseys in the 16th century and is a caricature.

If we look at other images of Margarita, including the one in her lifetime on her personal seal, then we will see, if not a written beauty, but quite an attractive woman with a good figure.

So where did the myth of "the ugliest woman in history" come from? The fact is that Margarita dared to impudence, unheard of at that time: she kicked out her disgusted husband, whom she was married to at the age of 11, and became the wife of her beloved.

Margarita Maultash simply did not let her first husband Johann Heinrich (he is on the left) go home to the castle when he returned from hunting. Apparently, the husband did not enjoy great love not only from his wife, but also from the citizens of Tyrol, since they all refused him shelter.

Annoyed, Johann found support from the Patriarch of Aquileia, as a result of which Margarita and her new husband Ludwig of Bavaria (he is on the right in the picture) were excommunicated for a long time, and ridiculous rumors spread about the duchess.

Marie Antoinette ordered to build a village for herself in which she could lead the life of a "commoner"

The brilliant atmosphere of Versailles and the need to observe court etiquette had a depressing effect on the queen, so as an outlet, she ordered to build for herself a tiny village near the Petit Trianon Palace with a mill, a farm, a dovecote, a pond and a cottage, which was much more comfortable than the palace chambers. All this reminded Marie Antoinette of her childhood, which was spent in the gardens of the Vienna Palace, where she played with relatives, governesses and dogs.

In her private village, the Queen dressed up as a regular shepherd or milkmaid and walked with her children and closest friends, and it seems that it was there that she was truly happy. After the French Revolution, the village of Marie Antoinette was abandoned, but it has now been restored and is open to the public.

Abraham Lincoln gave a speech so impressive that none of the journalists could record it

On May 29, 1856, in Bloomington, Illinois, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that is traditionally considered lost, since all the reporters present at this event were literally mesmerized by the words of the future president (Lincoln became one in 1861) and simply forgot to write down from it at least one word. We have no doubt about the oratorical talent of "Uncle Abe", but, you see, it still sounds implausible.

There is another version, according to which the text was deliberately lost, since Lincoln's speech was filled with a passionate condemnation of slavery, for the abolition of which, alas, not everyone advocated at that time. Nevertheless, the “lost speech” made a huge impression on the listeners, and a memorial plaque was subsequently erected in honor of this event, which still exists today.

Queen Victoria's best friend was groom John Brown

The British Queen Victoria is a rare exception among monarchs (at least in the old days) for the reason that she married for love and continued to adore her husband Prince Albert all her life. Do I need to explain that early death Was it a hard blow for her?

And who knows how she would have survived this event, if not for the support best friend queens. It was the Scottish groom John Brown (John Brown), who, like his relatives, faithfully served the Queen in Balmoral Castle. Walking and talking with John helped Victoria recover from the loss, although she never removed the mourning for Albert until the end of her life.

Of course, evil tongues immediately ridiculed the relationship, which, according to Queen Victoria herself, was a warm and loving friendship (so warm and loving friendship). There were scathing cartoons like the one you see now, and the Queen began to be called "Mrs Brown" behind her back.

Be that as it may, Victoria was strongly attached to John Brown and highly appreciated him, because after his death she ordered a statue to be erected in his honor, which was done. It is believed that before her death, the queen bequeathed to bury her along with a portrait of her beloved husband Albert in one hand and a portrait of John's best friend in the other.

The story of Victoria and John Brown was filmed in 1997, and 10 years later another film called Victoria and Abdul was released. It tells about the relationship of the queen with another "favorite", whose name was Abdul Karim (you can see him in the photo).

As expected, this friendship was also condemned, although it is known for certain that the queen signed her letters to the young handsome man only as “your loving mother”.

Composer Arnold Schoenberg was so afraid of the number 13 that he called it "12a". He died on July 13, 13 minutes before midnight.

The founder of the new Viennese school, composer Arnold Schoenberg (pictured with his wife Gertrude and daughter Nuria) had a rare phobia - fear of the number 13, or triskaidekaphobia. Schoenberg was born on the 13th and throughout his life considered this figure a bad omen.

As we already mentioned, the composer renamed 13 to 12a, and the same fate affected his last opera (pictured below) which Schoenberg called "Moses and Aron" ("Moses und Aron") instead of "Moses and Aaron" ("Moses und Aaron ”) only to ensure that the number of letters in the name is not 13.

And yet the last day of the life of Arnold Schoenberg was precisely the fateful number. On July 13, 1951, he lay in bed all day, feeling that death was approaching. The wife tried to persuade the composer to "stop these stupid things" and get up, but he refused, and at 11:47 pm he actually died, having uttered the word "harmony" before that.

Winston Churchill loved animals, and one of his pets was a lion

The British prime minister was a big animal lover (you can see him petting Field Marshal Montgomery in this photo). AT different time Churchill had the cats Nelson and Jock, the poodle Rufus, the bulldog Dodo, as well as cows, pigs, fish, butterflies, swans and other pets.

But, perhaps, the most unusual of the pets was a lion named Rota, who was presented to the prime minister as a gift as a kitten, and after a while, he prudently assigned the growing king of beasts to the London Zoo. Rota grew up and became the father of 4 cubs, and Churchill visited him at the zoo and fed him meat with his own hands.

Pablo Escobar trolls US authorities

Drug lord Escobar was so confident in his invulnerability that he was photographed with his son Juan Pablo in front of the White House in Washington, while he was wanted by US and Colombian authorities. This photo was taken by Pablo's wife Maria Victoria and was first shown in the movie Sins of My Father, based on the book by Juan Pablo Escobar, who legally changed his name to Sebastian Marroquin and now lives in Argentina.

Steve Jobs rarely showered because he believed his diet suppressed bodily odors. He was wrong

Every person has their own oddities, and great people are no exception. According to colleagues who worked with Steve Jobs at Atari, he believed that his plant-based diet prevented the smell of sweat, and therefore it was no longer necessary to take a shower every day. But Jobs was wrong. And so much so that in the company he was quickly transferred to the night shift, where to complain about bad smell there was no one in particular.

Princess Diana stopped wearing Chanel after her divorce from Prince Charles for a very personal reason

According to designer Jayson Brunsdon, after her divorce from Charles, Lady Dee refused to wear shoes and, possibly, other things from Chanel, due to the fact that the logo of this brand reminded Diana of her unfaithful husband and rival Camilla Parker-Bowles (you see her in the photo next to Diana).

The letters on the CC logo - the initials of Coco Chanel (Coco Chanel) - turned for Diana into "Charles and Camilla" (Camilla & Charles). It is not known if she subsequently changed her mind, but Bransdon assures that Lady Di had nothing against the brand itself, she simply could not see these ill-fated letters CC.

Actor Woody Harrelson's father was a contract killer

Famous people often have famous parents, but not all of them became famous thanks to good deeds. The father of Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson was the famous criminal Charles V. Harrelson, who was sentenced to 2 life terms on charges of murdering federal judge Jonathan Wood.

Subsequently, the son often visited Charles in prison, and, according to his confession, he was well-read and an educated person. Woody even tried to challenge the court's decision, but he failed.

An interesting fact: Charles Harrelson for some reason claimed that he was involved in the Kennedy assassination, but later retracted his words. Conspiracy theorists still consider Charles Harrelson one of the suspicious vagrants found near the murder site, but this is nothing more than speculation.

Once, Henry Ford, traveling in a small car of his company, saw on the road exactly the same car with a damaged engine.

He immediately provided the unfamiliar motorist with the necessary assistance: he supplied spare parts, adjusted the engine. When the grateful owner of the stuck car handed over five dollars, Ford smiled, “No, no, no money. Things are going well for me." “I don’t really believe it, venerable one! he answered. - If you succeed in business, you wouldn’t be shaking in a miserable “fordik” ...”.

Galileo Galilei first wedding night spent on a book. Noticing that it was already dawn, he went to the bedroom, but immediately went out and asked the servant: “Who is lying in my bed?” "Your wife, sir," replied the servant. Galileo completely forgot that he was married.

The German mathematician Peter Gustav Dirichlet was very taciturn. When his son was born, he sent his father-in-law a telegram, perhaps the shortest in the history of the telegraph: "2 + 1 = 3."

Distinguished American scientist Thomas Edison, the author of many inventions in the field of electrical engineering and communications, film technology and telephony, chemistry and mining, military equipment, never worked without an assistant. Long time in holding laboratory experiments and demonstrations new technology Edison was assisted by one of the assistants, in the past a simple sailor. When he was asked a question about how Edison makes his inventions, he was sincerely surprised every time: “I can’t figure it out myself. After all, I do everything for him, and Edison only frowns his forehead, but lets go of remarks addressed to me. And in general: I work, and he rests!

Once Voltaire was invited to a dinner party. When everyone was seated, it turned out that the maestro found himself between two grumpy gentlemen. Having drunk well, Voltaire's neighbors began to argue how to properly address the servants: "Bring me some water!" or "Give me water!". Voltaire unwittingly found himself right at the epicenter of this dispute. Finally, tired of this disgrace, the maestro could not stand it and said: - Gentlemen, both of these expressions are inapplicable to you! Both of you should say: "Take me to the watering hole!".

Traveling in France, Mark Twain traveled by train to the city of Dijon. The train was passing, and he asked to wake him up in time. At the same time, the writer said to the conductor: - I sleep very soundly. When you wake me up, maybe I will scream. So ignore it and be sure to drop me off at Dijon. When Mark Twain woke up, it was already morning, and the train was approaching Paris. The writer realized that Dijon had passed and became very angry. He ran to the conductor and began to reprimand him. - I've never been so angry as now! he shouted. "You're not as angry as the American I dropped off at Dijon last night," replied the guide.

After the first telegram was successfully transmitted from Europe to America, Alexander Stepanovich Popov made another report in one of the capital's clubs about his invention of a wireless telegraph system. Representatives of the royal court were present in the hall among the public, some of them were very skeptical about Popov's message. So, one of the high-society ladies, not understanding a word from the report, turned to Popov with what she thought was a tricky question: “However, how do you explain that this is a telegram during its passage through the ocean, from mainland to mainland , didn’t drown and didn’t even get wet? Alexander Stepanovich just shrugged his shoulders, and the lady, looking around, smiled smugly.

At the closing ceremony of the 1896 automobile exhibition in Paris, the French physicist and electrical engineer Marcel Despres proposed a toast to a future car that would reach speeds of 60 kilometers per hour. In response, one well-known then designer of cars responded with displeasure: - Well, why is there always someone who, with his stupid predictions, will spoil the whole celebration!

One day, an acquaintance of Alexander Pushkin, officer Kondyb, asked the poet if he could come up with a rhyme for the words "cancer" and "fish". Pushkin replied: "Fool Kondyba!" The officer was embarrassed and offered to make a rhyme for the combination "fish and cancer." Pushkin was not at a loss here either: "Kondyba is a fool."

"There is no great man for a servant." A curious confirmation of this old rule was the opinion of an old gardener who served Charles Darwin for several decades. He was fond of the famous naturalist, but had a “minimum opinion” about his abilities: “Good old gentleman, but it’s a pity he can’t find a worthwhile occupation. Judge for yourself: for several minutes he stands, staring at some flower. Well, would a person who has some serious occupation do it?

Once, speaking at a polytechnic institute at a debate about proletarian internationalism, Vladimir Mayakovsky said: - Among Russians, I feel like a Russian, among Georgians - a Georgian ... - And among fools? - suddenly someone shouted from the hall. “And for the first time among fools,” Mayakovsky replied instantly.

English theoretical physicist Paul Dirac married Wigner's sister. Soon a friend came to visit him, who still did not know anything about the event. In the midst of their conversation, a young woman entered the room, calling Dirac by name, pouring tea, and generally behaving like a mistress of the house. After some time, Dirac noticed the guest's embarrassment and, slapping his forehead, exclaimed: - Sorry, please, I forgot to introduce you - this is ... Wigner's sister!

Bernard Shaw, already a famous writer, once collided with a cyclist on the road. Fortunately, both escaped with only fright. The cyclist began to apologize, but Shaw objected: - You're out of luck, sir! A little more energy and you would have earned immortality as my killer.

One day, a very obese man said to a skinny Bernard Shaw, “You look like you might think your family is starving. - And look at you, you might think that you are the cause of this disaster.

The Prussian king Frederick II, considering himself an erudite man, liked to talk with members of his academy of sciences, sometimes asking the most ridiculous questions during these conversations. He once asked academicians: "Why does a glass filled with champagne give a cleaner ring than a glass filled with burgundy?" Professor Sulzer, on behalf of all the academicians present, replied: “Unfortunately, the members of the Academy of Sciences, with the low content that Your Majesty appointed them, are deprived of the opportunity to set up such experiments.”

Once Ilf and Petrov were asked if they had to write under a pseudonym. To which they replied: - Of course, Ilf sometimes signed Petrov, and Petrov Ilf.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, for fun, chose the addresses of 12 of the largest London bankers, who have a reputation for exceptionally honest and respectable people, and sent each of them a telegram that read: “Everything came out. Hide." The next day, all 12 bankers disappeared from London. All of them acknowledged the criminal and anti-social nature of their activities as a fact of their flight.

Alexandre Dumas once dined with famous doctor Gistal, who asked the writer to write something in his guest book. Dumas wrote: "Since Dr. Guistal treats entire families, the hospital must be closed." The doctor exclaimed: - You flatter me! Then Dumas added: "And build two cemeteries ..."

Guy de Maupassant worked for some time as an official in the ministry. A few years later, a description of Maupassant was found in the archives of the ministry: "A diligent official, but writes poorly."

In 1972, a young Indian wrote to John Lennon that he had a dream to make trip around the world, but no money, and asked to send the required amount. Lennon replied: "Meditate and you can see the whole world in your imagination." In 1995, the Hindu nevertheless went on a trip around the world. He received the required amount by selling Lennon's letter at auction.

Once a customs officer, inspecting the luggage of the British playwright, poet and writer Oscar Wilde, who was widely known for his wit, who arrived in New York, asked the distinguished guest if he had jewelry and art objects with him that needed to be included in the declaration. “Nothing but my genius,” answered Oscar Wilde.

When the current heir to the British crown, Prince Charles, studied at Cambridge, a bodyguard went with him to all classes. The Cambridge system of education allowed the bodyguard to participate in discussion and debate. And at the end of the training, the teachers offered him to pass the exams. As a result, the bodyguard scored more points than the prince himself, and also received a diploma.

Once, at a reception, Charlie Chaplin performed a very complex opera aria for the assembled guests. When he finished, one of the guests exclaimed: - Amazing! I had no idea that you sing so wonderfully. - Not at all, - Chaplin smiled, - I never knew how to sing. I was just imitating the famous tenor I heard at the opera.

During the rest of Vladimir Vysotsky in Sochi, thieves looked into his hotel room. Together with things and clothes, they took all the documents, and even the key to the Moscow apartment. Having discovered the loss, Vysotsky went to the nearest police station, wrote a statement, and they promised to help him. But no help was needed. When he returned to the room, there were already stolen things and a note: “Sorry, Vladimir Semenovich, we didn’t know whose things these were. Jeans, unfortunately, we have already sold, but the jacket and documents are returned safe and sound.”

photo found on the internet

1. Once upon a time famous physicist had a chance to become the president of Israel. However, he refused this position with the proviso that he would not be able to solve state affairs in view of their significance and scale.

2. Perhaps, dying Albert Einstein finally put forward another brilliant theory or said something equally significant. Alas, we will never know about this, as he died in the presence of a nurse who did not understand a word of German.

3. last will founder of the Nobel Prize was asked not to be considered a promoter of violence due to the fact that he invented dynamite.

4. Queen Anne of England was the mother of 17 children and outlived them all.

5. Elizabeth the First imposed a tax on those men who wore a beard.

6. She also passed a law obliging everyone, except for the very rich people, to wear special hats on Sunday.

7. One can only guess what happened during the feasts before Catherine the First issued a law stating that no man has the right to get drunk during the feast before 21.00.

8. For her wedding, among other things, Queen Victoria received a "piece" of cheese, weighing half a ton and three meters in diameter.

9. Lady Astor is credited with the following phrase, said to Prime Minister Winston Churchill: "If you were my husband, I would put poison in your coffee." They say that a worthy answer was received to this: "If you were my wife, I would drink it."

10. And the British Prime Minister himself smoked about 15 cigars a day.

11. An autograph from a famous Roman emperor is valued at $2 million. The problem is that so far no one has been able to find it.

12. The appearance of a laurel wreath on the head of Julius Caesar is associated with his attempt to hide the beginning of hair loss.

13. The loving Israeli king Solomon had about 700 wives and at least a hundred mistresses.

14. This sex icon's bra, which Marilyn wore in the movie Only Girls in Jazz, went up for $14,000 at auction.

15. The famous writer Charles Dickens slept exclusively facing north. He firmly believed that this contributed to the improvement of his writing talent.

16. What would US President Thomas Jefferson think of his descendants if he knew that the house in which he wrote the Declaration of Independence is now ... a diner?

17. George Washington can be proud that his birthday is the only birthday that is an official holiday in all states of America.

18. During the First World War, the future Pope John XXIII served as a sergeant in the Italian army.

19. Isaac Newton was fond of occult and supernatural ideas.

20. John D. Rockefeller gave away over $500 million to charitable causes during his lifetime.

21. Personally, I am overwhelmed by the fact that the two-time Nobel Prize winner could not become a member of the prestigious French Academy solely because she was a woman.

22. Mozart never attended school.

23. There was a payphone in the mansion of one of the richest people in the world.

24. First Chairman communist party China worked as an assistant librarian at Beijing University before taking power.

25. Three most famous name in China they amaze with their modesty and originality: Jesus Christ, Richard Nixon and Elvis Presley.

26. John Glenn became the first American astronaut to reach earth orbit.

27. This professional illusionist claimed that his outstanding abilities came to him from the distant planet Huva.

And finally

Who do you consider the most worthy example and inspiration for yourself personally? Martin Luther King Jr., Yuri Gagarin, or maybe your grandfather? Our world has been forming for several millennia, and a lot of historical figures took part in this difficult process, who made their invaluable contribution to science, culture and many other spheres of life, both in their countries and all of humanity. It is very difficult and almost impossible to choose those whose influence was the most significant. However, the authors of this list still decided to try and collect in one publication the most inspiring personalities in the history of world civilizations. Some of them are known to everyone, others are not known to everyone, but they all have one thing in common - these people have changed our world for the better. From the Dalai Lama to Charles Darwin, here are 25 of the most prominent personalities in history!

25. Charles Darwin

The famous British traveler, naturalist, geologist and biologist, Charles Darwin is best known for his theory, which changed the idea of ​​human nature and the development of the world in all its diversity. Theory of evolution and natural selection Darwin suggests that all kinds of living organisms, including humans, descended from common ancestors, and this concept at one time shocked the entire scientific community. Darwin published The Theory of Evolution, with some examples and evidence, in his revolutionary On the Origin of Species in 1859, and our world and the way we know it has changed a lot since then.

24. Tim Berners-Lee


Photo: Paul Clarke

Tim Berners-Lee is a British engineer, inventor and computer scientist, best known as the creator of the World Wide Web. He is sometimes called the "Father of the Internet" and it was Berners-Lee who developed the first hypertext web browser, web server, and web editor. The technologies of this outstanding scientist have spread worldwide and have forever changed the way information is generated and processed.

23. Nicholas Winton


Photo: cs:User:Li-sung

Nicholas Winton was a British philanthropist, and since the late 80s, he became known primarily for taking 669 Jewish children from the territory of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia right on the eve of World War II. Winton moved all these children to British orphanages, and some of them even managed to be placed in families, which definitely saved them all from certain death in concentration camps or during the bombing. The philanthropist organized as many as 8 trains from Prague and also took the children out of Vienna, but with the help of other modes of transport. The Englishman never sought fame, and for 49 years he kept his secret heroic deed. In 1988, Winton's wife discovered he had notebook with records of 1939 and with the addresses of the families who received the young rescuers. Since then, recognition, orders and awards have fallen upon him. Nicholas Winton died at the age of 106 in 2015.

22. Buddha Shakyamuni (Gautama Buddha)


Photo: Max Pixel

Also known as Siddhartha Gautama (from birth), Tathagata (who has come), or Bhagavan (blissful), Buddha Shakyamuni (the awakened sage of the Shakya family) was the spiritual leader and founder of Buddhism, one of the world's three leading religions. Buddha was born in the 6th century BC in royal family and lived in absolute isolation and luxury. When the prince matured, he left his family and all his possessions to plunge into self-discovery and seek to save humanity from suffering. After several years of meditation and contemplation, Gautama attained enlightenment and became a Buddha. Through his teachings, Shakyamuni Buddha influenced the lives of millions of people around the world.

21. Rosa Parks

Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as the “First Lady of Civil Rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement,” Rosa Parks was a true pioneer and founder of the black rights movement in Alabama in the 1950s, where there was still a strong racial segregation of citizens in those days. In 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a courageous African-American woman and passionate civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, disobeying the driver's orders. Her rebellious act provoked other blacks into what was later nicknamed the legendary "Montgomery Bus Boycott." This boycott lasted 381 days and became one of the key events in the history of the black civil rights movement in the United States.

20. Henry Dunant

Photo: ICRC

Successful Swiss entrepreneur and active public figure Henri Dunant was the first person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. During a business trip in 1859, Dunant faced the terrible aftermath of the Battle of Solferino (Solferino, Italy), where the troops of Napoleon, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Austrian Empire clashed under the leadership of Franz Joseph I, and the battlefield was left to die almost 9 thousand wounded. In 1863, in response to the horrors of war and the brutality of the fight, the entrepreneur founded the well-known International Committee of the Red Cross. Adopted in 1864, the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded was also based on the ideas expressed by Henri Dunant.

19. Simon Bolivar

Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as the Liberator (El Libertador), Simon Bolivar was an outstanding Venezuelan military and political leader who played a key role in the liberation from Spanish domination of as many as 6 countries of South and Central America - Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama. Bolivar was born into a wealthy aristocratic family, but he devoted most of his life to military campaigns and the struggle for the independence of the Spanish colonies in America. The country of Bolivia, by the way, was named after this hero and liberator.

18. Albert Einstein

Photo: wikimedia commons

Albert Einstein is one of the most respected and influential scientists of all time. This outstanding theoretical physicist, Nobel laureate and humanist public figure gave the world over 300 scientific papers in physics and about 150 books and articles on history, philosophy and other humanitarian areas. His whole life was full of interesting research, revolutionary ideas and theories, which later became fundamental for modern science. Most of all, Einstein was glorified by the Theory of Relativity, and thanks to this work he became one of the the greatest personalities in the history of mankind. Even after almost a century, this Theory continues to influence the thinking of the modern scientific community, working on the creation of the Theory of Everything (or unified theory fields).

17. Leonardo da Vinci


Photo: wikimedia commons

It is difficult to describe and list all the directions in which Leonardo da Vinci succeeded, a man who changed the whole world with his mere existence. Throughout his life, this Italian Renaissance genius managed to achieve unprecedented heights in painting, and in architecture, and in music, and in mathematics, and in anatomy, and in engineering, and in many other areas. Da Vinci is recognized as one of the most versatile and talented people who ever lived on our planet, and he is the author of such revolutionary inventions as the parachute, helicopter, tank and scissors.

16. Christopher Columbus

Photo: wikimedia commons

The famous Italian explorer, traveler and colonizer, Christopher Columbus was not the first European to sail to America (after all, the Vikings had been here before him). However, his voyages gave start whole era the most outstanding discoveries, conquests and colonizations, which lasted several more centuries after his death. Columbus' travels to the New World greatly influenced the development of the geography of those times, because at the beginning of the 15th century people still believed that the Earth was flat, and that there were no more lands beyond the Atlantic.

15 Martin Luther King Jr.


Photo: wikimedia commons

This is one of the most influential personalities of the 20th century. Martin Luther King Jr. is best known for his peaceful movement against discrimination, racial segregation and for the civil rights of black Americans, for which he even received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist preacher and vibrant speaker who inspired millions around the world to fight for democratic freedoms and their rights. He played a key role in advancing civil rights through peaceful protests based on Christian faith and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.

14. Bill Gates

Photo: DFID – UK Department for International Development

The founder of the legendary multinational company Microsoft, Bill Gates was considered the richest man in the world for almost 20 years. However, in recent times Gates became known primarily as a generous philanthropist, rather than for his success in business and the information technology market. At one time, Bill Gates stimulated the development of the personal computer market, making computers accessible to the most ordinary users, which is exactly what he was trying to achieve. Now he is passionate about the idea of ​​​​providing Internet access to the whole world. Gates also works on projects dedicated to combating global warming and combating gender discrimination.

William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers and playwrights in the English language, and he has had a profound influence on a whole galaxy of writers, as well as on millions of readers around the world. In addition, Shakespeare introduced about 2,000 new words, most of which are still in use in modern English. With his work, the national poet of England has inspired a great many composers, artists and filmmakers from around the world.

12. Sigmund Freud

Photo: wikimedia commons

Austrian neurologist and founder of the science of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud is famous for his unique research mysterious world human subconscious. With them, he forever changed the way we evaluate ourselves and the people around us. Freud's work influenced the psychology, sociology, medicine, art, and anthropology of the 20th century, and his therapeutic methods and theories in the field of psychoanalysis are still being studied and applied in practice.

11. Oskar Schindler

Photo: wikimedia commons

Oskar Schindler was a German entrepreneur, Nazi Party member, spy, womanizer and drinker. All this does not sound very attractive and certainly does not sound like a characterization of a real hero. However, contrary to all of the above, Schindler was on this list absolutely deservedly, because during the Holocaust and World War II, this man saved about 1,200 Jews, rescuing them from death camps to work in his plants and factories. The heroic story of Oskar Schindler has been described in many books and films, but the most famous adaptation was Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Schindler's List (Steven Spielberg, Schindler's List).

10. Mother Teresa

Photo: wikimedia commons

A Catholic nun and missionary, Mother Teresa devoted almost her entire life to serving the poor, the sick, the disabled, and orphans. She founded the charitable movement and the women's monastic congregation "Sisters of the Missionaries of Love" (Congregatio Sororum Missionarium Caritatis), which exists in almost all countries of the world (in 133 countries as of 2012). In 1979, Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize, and 19 years after her death (in 2016) she was canonized by Pope Francis himself.

9 Abraham Lincoln

Photo: wikimedia commons

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and one of the most influential personalities in American history. Coming from a poor farming family, Lincoln fought for the reunification of the country during the Civil War between North and South, strengthened the federal government, modernized the American economy, but he earned a reputation as an outstanding historical figure primarily for his contribution to the development of a democratic society and the fight against slavery and oppression. the black population of the USA. The legacy of Abraham Lincoln still has a defining influence on the American people.

8 Stephen Hawking


Photo: Lwp Kommunikacio / flickr

Stephen Hawking is one of the most famous and respected scientists in the world, and he has made an invaluable contribution to the development of science (especially cosmology and theoretical physics). The work of this British researcher and ardent popularizer of science is also impressive because Hawking made almost all of his discoveries despite a rare and slowly progressing degenerative disease. The first signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis appeared in his student years, and now the great scientist is completely paralyzed. However, severe illness and paralysis did not prevent Hawking from marrying twice, becoming the father of two sons, flying in zero gravity, writing many books, becoming one of the founders of quantum cosmology and the winner of an entire collection. prestigious awards, medals and orders.

7. Unknown rebel


Photo: HiMY SYeD / flickr

This conditional name refers to an unknown man who independently held back a column of tanks for half an hour during the protests on Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen, China) in 1989. In those days, hundreds of protesters, most of whom were ordinary students, were killed in clashes with the military. The identity and fate of the unknown rebel remain unknown, but this photograph has become an international symbol of courage and peaceful resistance.

6. Muhammad

Photo: wikimedia commons

Muhammad was born in 570 AD in the city of Mecca (Mecca, modern Saudi Arabia). He is considered a Muslim prophet and the founder of the Islamic religion. Being not only a preacher, but also a politician, Muhammad united all the Arab peoples of those times into a single Muslim empire that conquered most of the Arabian Peninsula. The author of the Qur'an started out with a few followers, but eventually his teachings and practices formed the basis of the Islamic religion, which has become the second most popular religion in the world today, with about 1.8 billion believers.

5. Dalai Lama XIV (The 14th Dalai Lama)


Photo: wikimedia commons

Dalai Lama XIV or at birth Lhamo Dhondup (Lhamo Thondup) is a 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner and a well-known preacher of the Buddhist philosophy of peace, professing respect for all life on Earth, and calling for the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. The former spiritual and political leader of Tibet in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama always tried to find a compromise and sought reconciliation with the Chinese authorities who invaded Tibet from territorial claims. In addition, Lhamo Dhondrup zealously supports the movement for women's rights, interfaith dialogues and advocates for the solution of global environmental issues.

4. Princess Diana (Princess Diana)


Photo: Auguel

Also known as "Lady Dee" and " people's princess”, Princess Diana conquered millions of people's hearts around the world with her charitable work, diligence and sincerity. Most she devoted her short life to helping those in need from third world countries. The Queen of Human Hearts, as she was also called, founded a movement to stop the production and use of anti-personnel mines, and also actively participated in the activities of several dozen humanitarian campaigns and non-profit organizations including the Red Cross, London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and AIDS Research. Lady Dee died at the age of 36 from injuries sustained in a car accident.

3. Nelson Mandela


Photo: Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science

Nelson Mandela was a South African politician, philanthropist, revolutionary, reformer, passionate human rights activist during apartheid (racial segregation policy) and President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He had a profound effect on history South Africa and the whole world. For his beliefs, Mandela spent almost 27 years in prison, but he did not lose faith in the liberation of his people from the oppression of the authorities, and after his release from prison he achieved democratic elections, as a result of which he became the first black president of South Africa. His tireless work for the peaceful overthrow of the apartheid regime and for the establishment of democracy has inspired millions of people around the world. In 1993, Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize.

2. Jeanne d'Arc (Jeanne d "Arc)

Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc is the greatest heroine in French history and one of the most famous women in world history. Born into a poor farming family in 1412, she believed she had been chosen by God to lead France to victory in the Hundred Years' War with England. The girl died before the end of the war, but her courage, passion and devotion to her goal (especially during the siege of Orleans) caused a long-awaited moral upsurge and inspired the entire French army to final victory in a protracted and seemingly hopeless confrontation with the British. Unfortunately, in the battle, the Maid of Orleans was captured by the enemies, was condemned by the Inquisition and burned at the stake at the age of 19.

1. Jesus Christ

Photo: wikimedia commons

Jesus Christ is the central figure of the Christian religion, and He has had such an impact on our world strong influence that he is often called the most influential and inspiring person in the history of mankind. Compassion, love for neighbors, sacrifice, humility, repentance and forgiveness, to which Jesus called in his sermons and personal example, were concepts that were absolutely opposite to the values ​​of ancient civilizations during His life on Earth. Nevertheless, today there are about 2.4 billion followers of His teachings and Christian faith in the world.

Faina Ranevskaya

Actors have long used one trick to better get into character before a performance. Changing clothes in the dressing room, they completely undress and remain without clothes for several minutes. This helps them take their minds off their worldly image and prepare for the role. Then the actor puts on a suit and goes on stage.

Once Faina Ranevskaya before the performance, practicing this method, stood in the dressing room in front of the mirror completely naked and smoked.

At that moment, the administrator impetuously flew into the dressing room, apparently in order to report something important. But when he saw the "picture", he froze on the threshold in silent amazement. Ranevskaya watched him through the mirror. Finally, after a pause, she asked:

Nothing that I smoke?

Mark Twain

Once Mark Twain received a letter in which there was only one word: "Pig".

Once, while at a social event, Mark Twain was talking with one unpleasant person. To smooth over the awkwardness, he decided to compliment her:

You are simply adorable today!

To which the rude lady threw:

Can't say the same about you.

Mark Twain was not taken aback:

But you can do like me! Lie!

Foot

In the 19th century, an actor named Foote was very famous in Britain. Once, while traveling around the country, he stopped for the night in a small town.

Having ordered dinner for himself at the tavern, he ate it with pleasure, and to the courteous question of the owner of the tavern, did he like the dinner, the actor, being in an excellent mood, answered:

Today I had the best dinner in England

Except for our mayor, - the innkeeper politely prompted him.

Nonsense! I definitely had the best meal!

Except the mayor,” the innkeeper said again.

The verbal skirmish turned into a conflict, and the innkeeper dragged the actor to the same mayor. The mayor, after listening to the innkeeper, informed Foot that in their city everyone was ordered to express all respect for the mayor and mention him at every opportunity. And violators of this order are promised either a fine or a day in prison. The actor immediately paid a fine and, outraged by the ridiculous story, said in his hearts:

I have never seen such a fool as this innkeeper!

Except for the mayor, of course.

Alexander II

One landowner, who received the title for his merit, and not from birth, and who did not have a noble birth, really wanted to send his son to study at the University. At that time, it was necessary to ask for special permission to enter the sovereign. And the landowner undertook to compose a message to the tsar. Since he himself was an illiterate person, problems with writing a letter arose from the very beginning - he did not know how to turn to the sovereign. Somewhere he heard that high persons are called "August". But why this was so, the landowner did not know. The case took place in September, and the landowner decided that the best way to address the sovereign at that time would be like this: "September sovereign ...".

The received message of Alexander II was very amused. He decreed:

To accept his son to the University and teach there so that he would not be as illiterate as his father.

4:9

Socrates

Walking speed
A passer-by asked the philosopher Socrates:
- How many hours drive to the city?
Socrates replied:
- Go...
The traveler went, and when he had walked twenty paces, Socrates called out:
- Two hours!
Why didn't you tell me right away? - he was indignant.
- And how did I know how fast you would go!

Socratic calm
Few people endure patiently when people talk badly about them in absentia. Socrates, the great Athenian philosopher, listened with the greatest indifference to being reviled behind the eyes.
“If they beat me in absentia,” the philosopher always said, “then I won’t say a word either.”

Peter I

Death prevented the presentation of the award
Remember the lines of Pushkin's "Poltava": "...Where is Mazepa? Where is the villain? Where did Judas flee in fear?" The comparison of Mazepa with Judas, who was paid thirty pieces of silver for the betrayal, has a special meaning from the point of view of numismatics.
Having learned about the betrayal of Mazepa, Peter I decided to "pay" the traitor with a kind of coin. This coin was specially made - weighing about 4 kg and with the appropriate inscription. According to Peter's plan, the notorious hetman, as a sign of his betrayal, had to wear a giant coin around his neck until the end of his life. Only the death of Mazepa prevented the tsar from carrying out this plan.

Drinking medal
Great Peter did not respect overly passionate drinkers. According to his decree, drunkards who ended up in prison were hung around their necks with a cast-iron medal weighing 17 pounds (about 7 kg) with the inscription "For drunkenness."

Voltaire

Philosopher and God
French writer and the philosopher Voltaire was asked what relationship he has with God, whether he shows disrespect for God. He answered with dignity:
- Unfortunately, many have long noticed the opposite. I have been bowing to God for many years, but he has never answered me even one of my most polite bows.

Caution
When Voltaire was asked if he would undertake to write the history of his king, he sharply replied:
- Never! This would be the surest way to lose the royal pension.

Spectacular sharpness
One scientist, wishing to see Voltaire, went specially to Ferne, where he was very affectionately received by the writer's niece, Madame Denis. However, Voltaire himself did not appear. Before leaving, the guest wrote to the host: "I considered you a god and now I am finally convinced that I am right, since it is impossible to see you."
Voltaire liked this joke so much that he ran after its author and kissed him.

Like chestnuts
Voltaire's books, which denounced churchmen, were subjected to censorship. The censors sentenced one of the books to be burned. Voltaire commented on this:
- All the better! My books are like chestnuts: the more they are roasted, the more they are bought.

7:9

Friend of Voltaire
Voltaire had a doctor friend with whom he willingly spent evenings when he was healthy. But as soon as he fell ill, he immediately wrote a note to the doctor: "Dear doctor! Please, do not come today: I am ill."

Voltaire's review
One young playwright asked Voltaire to listen to his new play. After reading his work to him, he looked forward to Voltaire's opinion.
- That's what, young man, - said Voltaire after a long pause. - You can write such things when you become old and famous. Until then, you need to write something better.

Haydn

oracle error
A young man came to the old Viennese bandmaster and, holding out an envelope with a letter of recommendation from his first music teacher, shyly asked to teach him counterpoint.
Having opened the envelope, the bandmaster read: "The giver of this is an empty dreamer who is obsessed with the fact that he can make a revolution in music. He has no talent at all, and, of course, he will not compose anything decent in his whole life. His name is Joseph Haydn" .

8:9

bull minuet
The great Austrian composer Joseph Haydn, to his considerable surprise, once saw a guest in his house - a butcher, who turned out to be a lover and connoisseur of his works.
- Maestro, - the butcher respectfully took off his hat, - the other day is my daughter's wedding. Write me a beautiful new minuet. To whom should I turn with such an important request, if not to the illustrious Haydn?
A day later, the butcher received the composer's precious gift, and a few days later decided to thank him. Haydn heard deafening sounds, in which he hardly recognized the melody of his minuet. Going to the window, he saw at his porch a magnificent bull with gilded horns, a happy butcher with his daughter and son-in-law, and a whole orchestra of itinerant musicians. The butcher took a step forward and said with feeling:
- Sir, I think that the best expression of gratitude for a fine minuet on the part of the butcher can only be the best of his bulls.
Since then, this Haydn minuet in C major has been called the Bull Minuet.

8:9

witty revenge
Once Haydn conducted an orchestra in London. He knew that many English people sometimes go to concerts not so much for the pleasure of listening to music, but for tradition. Some London concert hall patrons have developed the habit of falling asleep in their comfortable chairs during performances. Haydn had to make sure that no exception was made for him. This circumstance greatly annoyed the composer, and he decided to take revenge on the indifferent listeners.
Revenge was smart. Especially for the Londoners, Haydn wrote a new symphony.
At the most critical moment, when part of the audience began to nod off, there was a thunderous beat of a bass drum. And every time, as soon as the listeners calmed down and settled down to sleep again, a drumbeat was heard.
Since then, this symphony has been called "Symphony with timpani beats", or "Surprise".

Suvorov

Eye gauge
When they asked Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov what an eye was, great commander answered:
- Eyeball - this means you need to climb a tree, survey the enemy camp and immediately congratulate yourself on the victory.
So he did under Rymnik.

Who cares
The wife of one officer once complained to A.V. Suvorov about her husband:
“Your Grace, he treats me badly.
“That doesn’t concern me,” the general replied.
- But he scolds you behind your back...
“That, mother, is none of your concern.

9:9

Townships
- Alexander Vasilievich, - Suvorov was asked, - how do you assess the game of gorodki?
- The game of towns develops an eye, speed and onslaught, - the commander answered. - I rush about with a bat - this is an eye. I beat with a bat - this is speed. I beat with a bat - this is an onslaught.

Mozart

Grateful subject
Archduchess Marie Antoinette took little Mozart, the future composer, around the Vienna Palace. The boy slipped on the parquet floor and fell. The Archduchess hastened to pick it up.
- You are very kind, - the young musician told her, - I will marry you.
Marie Antoinette passed Mozart's words to her mother.
- Why do you want to marry her highness? the Empress asked.
“Out of gratitude,” Mozart replied.

10:9

Immediacy
Once a noble Salzburg dignitary decided to talk with the young Mozart, who by that time had already gained world fame. How to address the boy - that's what embarrassed the nobleman. To say “you” to Mozart is inconvenient, his fame is too great, to say “you” is too much honor for the boy ... But here is a way out:
- We were in France and England? Have we had great success? asked the dignitary.
- But I don't think I've ever met you anywhere except Salzburg! the ingenuous Wolfgang interrupted him.

How to do it
One young man asked Mozart how to write symphonies.
- You are still very young, - answered Mozart, - why don't you start with ballads?
- But you composed a symphony when you were only nine years old...
- That's right, - Mozart agreed, - but I didn't ask anyone how to do it.

Envious people are not an ally
Haydn had many envious people among mediocre composers. One of them decided to recruit ... Mozart as an ally. He invited the great composer to a concert in which the Haydn quartet was performed, and during the performance he said indignantly to Mozart.
- I would never write like that.
- Me too, - Mozart answered briskly, - and do you know why? Neither you nor I would ever have thought of these lovely melodies.