“Evaluation of people”

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

The collection of works by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, translated into English

1934

Let’s start with the highest. Only history serves as a guide for this.

Let’s rank people in order of their value, starting with the highest.

The love of the few, the hatred of the many and the indifference of the majority. Their destiny is to be killed in their youth by the powerful of the world. Cross, guillotine, gallows, firing squad, all kinds of torments – this is their fate. They leave neither wives nor offspring (Giordano Bruno).

Hundreds, thousands of years pass – the glory of the tortured grows, their influence continues even after their death. It bears great beneficent fruit. Mankind elevates them to the dignity of gods.

Others are despised, persecuted, arrested, executed, yet die their deaths. Their dignity grows from the day of their death and reaches a high value after many centuries (Hamilton, Kepler).

Geniuses, on the other hand, are lower in rank. They are not killed, not tortured to death, but forgotten. Their works are rejected, or rot in cellars. Hundreds of years after their death, they are accidentally discovered. The dignity of the forgotten genius is restored. It also grows with the centuries. No offspring are left behind (Mendel).

And here is the fourth stage of extraordinary people. Such have some glory at the end of life. They spent their youth in torment, disappointment, poverty, in prisons. But they die a natural death, although deprivation, exhaustion, humiliation and hunger strike shorten their life considerably. They leave no offspring. Examples: Kepler, Copernicus, Galileo, Mendeleev, Lamarck. Their fame is much higher after death. It grows with the centuries.

We also have such people, to whom success smiles in middle age. They also endure a lot, but fame and correct evaluation come earlier. At least in old age they are comforted and rewarded by it. It is not uncommon for them to attain wealth and power at the end of life. Their lineage rarely continues.

In the sixth rank of outstanding people we see: quick success in youth, honor and wealth. Labor is highly valued even after death, but they do not live for hundreds of years. Offspring, if any, are pitiful.

Seventh rank: resounding practical success, career, conquests, throne. Appreciation is high only in life. The grade fluctuates. After death falls and reaches a negative value.

Eighth rank: little success, but useful though moderate deeds. After death are forgotten. Offspring are left behind.

Ninth rank: imaginary success. The fame of the writer, inventor, artist, scientist. But, alas, while still alive, contemporaries are disappointed. The unfortunate outlive their fame. They’re bubbles.

Would you like to read other works of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky?

Read them online in English or download them for free in PDF format on the page “Scientific Heritage” of the website.

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