Socrates, Plato, Aristotle;they are all great philosophers, great men and never forgotten.
Socrates put individual's beliefs over society's. Plato who was Socrates's student had beliefs that where different from his master's. Aristotle had contradictory values and beliefs. Each of them stood by their values and beliefs, against the society, against their teachers whom they respected immensely.
All these men are greatly respected, for not just what they preached, but because they practiced the same, against all odds.
Greatness doesn't come with following blindly the "ethics" the society imposes on you. And anyone who follows them, just because it is imposed on them, will only follow it selectively and that can never be called a virtue.
Philosophy is not a science to be learnt from books. Morals don't come without the realisation of one's own premises. We have to build our premises, beliefs, Morals and ethics that cater to our own realities.
Great or not, depends not just on what your values and beliefs are! It depends on whether or not you have the guts to practice them, without giving in and without bending them!
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