"Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints in the sands of time.

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother
Seeing, shall take heart again.

These haunting lines by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow underline the powerful effect that the lives of remarkable people can have on us. Knowing about such people not only inspires us to improve our own lives; by becoming for the better, we become, in turn, an example for others to emulate. It is with this heartening thought in mind that we prepared this book describing the lives of 21 unforgettable people. A wide range of people are featured here, from politicians to writers, from scientists to social workers. Some are famous, others unknown. There's even a fictional character -- Don Quixote -- who, despite being imaginary, has, for centuries, stood for everything that's noble and honourable in human beings.
At a time when values seem to be collapsing, it is reassuring to read about these unforgettable people. For the articles in this book help us realize that, above all, it's character that counts, and that, if only we tried harder, we, too, can make our lives meaningful -- to ourselves and others."