We try to hold them up as moral and right figures because we need such moral figures to follow. It is difficult enough to try to be moral as it is, but without a figure to follow it seems even less possible. Yes, none of them were the moral, righteous, brilliant, tollerant, superphilosophers we make them out to be, but we need them to be that for us. We need them the way Christians need Jesus (not to say Jesus didn't exist, but he represents the ultimate figure to look up to).
Any excuse to be moral is a good excuse.
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