The Best Aren't Good

Anyone can achieve a certain level of success and prominence if they're willing to be evil enough.  There's no intelligence requirement... no knowledge of history or much of anything other than a willingness to throw away all decency for a goal.  Betrayal and subversion are just the beginning.

Much more impressive are those who've achieved prominence in a field without utilizing despicable means.  Being honest, being trustworthy, and keeping promises seem to be foreign concepts to most successful people.  Not all, but most.  Those who've kept close to the principles they know to be good and right, and still gotten somewhere in life, are rare, indeed.