Ordinary Human Quote by Howard Fast
““There is nothing more important than being a man, just a plain, ordinary, human man. I know you think Spartacus is something more than a man. He isn't. If he were, then he wouldn't be any good at all. There is no great mystery about Spartacus.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Spartacus by Howard Fast, 1951
The quote demystifies Spartacus, emphasizing he was an ordinary man, not a legendary figure, and that greatness is not a mystery.
In simple terms: Spartacus was just a regular person, not a myth.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the humanity in historical icons.
Themes
history
heroism
mythmaking
humanity
leadership
Mood
analytical
critical
educational
Type
historical
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- public speaking
- media portrayal
- museum curation
- literary criticism
Key Concepts
historical analysis
philosophy
cultural studies
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a hero become a myth?
- How does mythologizing affect our view of history?
A Different Perspective
Elevating individuals can obscure their real, ordinary nature.
![“O Stranger, send the news home to the people of Sparta that here we Are laid to rest: the commands they gave us have been obeyed. Ὦ ξεῖν', ἀγγέλλειν Λακεδαιμονίοις ὅτι τῇδε κείμεθα, τοῖς κείνων ῥήμασι πειθόμενοι. [Epitaph of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae]” quote by Simonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7da/simonides-61471_300_o-stranger-send-the-news-home-to-the-peo_737958.jpg)
![“Geronimo [is]...an example of our practice of destroying those who oppose us and then honoring them.” quote by Howard Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b2c/howard-fast-20492_geronimo_geronimo-is-an-example-of-our-practice-o_118431.jpg)
![“I am a man of peace [so he told Mother, but it always appeared to me that he was the most belligerent man of peace I had ever encountered]” quote by Howard Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe4/howard-fast-20492_men_i-am-a-man-of-peace-so-he-told-mother-bu_709008.jpg)
