I’m reading Alexander Hamilton: A Life by Willard Sterne Randall (fantastic) and came across this quote by Jacques Necker, France’s “reformist minister of finance” in the 18th century.

There are men whose zeal ought not to be cooled: such are those who, being conscious that they are qualified for great things, have a noble thirst for glory; who, being impelled by the force of their genius, feel themselves too confined within the narrow limits of common occupations; and those, more especially who, being struck with the idea of the public good, meditate on it and make it the most important business of their lives.  Proceed, you who, after silencing self-love, find your resemblance in this picture.