Historical Figures w/ The Utmost Integrity?
If you can't think of any, pick someone who is living.
shareFrom what I've read, George Washington was pretty much as advertised. The story about the cherry tree almost certainly never happened -- what kid would be dumb enough to pull a stunt like that? -- but it contained a deeper truth, like many myths. Washington was a man of iron integrity. Ordinary, lesser men quailed in his presence. Some couldn't handle it at all and ended up like this guy -- https://youtu.be/1qCszP4HI7U?t=166
shareHis retirement and farewell address does him credit as a man of integrity (among many other things)
https://www.history.com/news/george-washington-farewell-address-warnings
Did you mostly read quotes of George Washington? Personally, it's all I would look at, with a historical figure from so many years ago without audio/video as proof.
shareI wrote the above based on what the professor in my one college history course said. That was about forty years ago, so I don't remember the examples he used to illustrate what he said. Just that GW's character was made of granite.
I do remember something else the prof said. Because of medical and nutritional advances, humans today are larger than they were back then. Among today's American males GW would be a little taller than average and somewhat on the slender side -- 6'2" and 175 lbs. But among his smaller contemporaries he was like an NFL linebacker -- imagine 6'8" and 275 lbs in today's terms. Apparently there are quite reliable accounts of women literally swooning when brought into his presence, their feminine neurons overloaded by his manliness. I don't buy the idea that size alone would do that; Thomas Jefferson was the same weight and a little taller than GW, and considerably more handsome, but we don't have those kinds of reports about him. Maybe GW just had exceptionally strong pheromones, reeking of raw, full force testosterone.
OTOH, could have been halitosis. Those wooden teeth must have gotten pretty grungy at times. Maybe his breath knocked a few women to the floor.
Another story, from Affairs of Honor (ISBN 0300097557) -- a great book if you're interested in 1790s USA politics. GW was very aware that anything he did might be modeled by future Presidents. and so when in doubt erred to formality. With his military background it seemed natural to have a Presidential uniform, something like a general's but without military insignia. One evening, after work was done and he was wearing civvies, he was chatting with his dinner guest, a government official. They suddenly realized that there was some official business that couldn't wait until morning but required their immediate attention. GW said wait and left the room. When he returned he was wearing the uniform. "Now I can discuss this as the President." They took care of the business, GW left and returned in civvies, and the dinner resumed.