In my opinion there has been much talk about the Common Man. It has been dinned into us that this is the century of the Common Man. The idea seems to be that the common man has come into his own at last.

Thus we have developed a cult of the common man, which means a cult of mediocracy. But there is a least one hopeful sign: I have not been able to find out who this Common Man is. In fact, most Americans, especially women, will get mad and fight if you try calling them common. This is hopeful because it shows that most people are holding fast to an essential fact in American life. We believe in equal opportunity for all, but we know that this includes the opportunity to rise to leadership - in other words, to be uncommon.

Let us remember that the great human advances have not been brought about by mediocre men and women. They were brought about by distinctly uncommon people with vital sparks of leadership. Many of these great leaders were, it is true, of humble origin, but that was not their greatness.

It is a curious fact that when we get sick, we want an uncommon doctor; if your car breaks down you want an uncommonly good mechanic; when we get into war, we want dreadfully an uncommon admiral and an uncommon general. I have never met a father or mother who did not want their children to grow up to be uncommon men and women. Only when we get into politics are we content with the common man. May it always bew so. For the future of America rests not in mediocracy, but in the constant renewal of leadership in every phase of our national life.

Part of a 1948 graduation speech given by Herbert Hoover at Wilington College of Ohio.

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