Be a great ruler. I don’t care if I am known for what I do—as long as I know that I have done it.

Be a great ruler. Truth will out.

@iamthemob Sometimes, great rulers are lost to the anals of history…

I’d rather be known as a great ruler, then go find out what made me such a great ruler. :P

Am I a shatterproof ruler, pocket ruler, or more of the protractor variety?

Trick question. There’s no such thing.

@incendiary_dan Pick one.

I think I would choose to be known as a great ruler because that would indicate that the populace thought highly of me and my ability to lead well.

I’d rather be a great ruler ,,,, there’s always that sense of secret and quiet amusement when you know that you know something the other person does not….

@MyNewtBoobs – Sometimes, great rulers are lost to the anals of history

True – however, if I’m truly a great leader, and people don’t think that I am, then eventually at least the work will be recognized as great.

Of course, it’s difficult to be a great leader, though, unless the people that you’re leading think you are. So are you really talking about great leaders of their time that are forgotten – or leaders that are remembered as great and might have been really mediocre or bad.

If that’s the case – still would rather be a great leader.

I’d rather be a good ruler. That’s basically how I live my life, anyway, as a quiet ambassador for good and justice. I would rule as I live now, by treating others with respect and by fulfilling what I consider to be my duty to other human beings. I doubt I’ll get any recognition for this and that’s okay. It’s not the recognition that matters, it’s the satisfaction that comes from knowing I lived my life as honestly, as truthfully, and as thoughtfully as possible.

I’d rather be a great ruler and the history books be damned.

I’d rather be a great ruler than (merely) be known as one. I’ve never cared for seeing my name in print.

@SavoirFaire – that does not apply to your screenname, I assume. ;-)

Nope. That’s why I like the internet. I always find it weird when advertisements for jobs in journalism use “see your name in print” as an enticement.

The former, because then I would also be the latter.

@seazen Read the description: it’s one or the other. If you choose the former, then history will conspire to make sure the latter never comes about.

Not true. There have been great rulers who were also thought of as great rulers.

@seazen Again, read the description. I’m not making a historical claim. I’m directing you to the parameters of the question.

@SavoirFaire Yes, you have to pick one – you can’t pick both, you can’t pick neither.

Hmmm. I think I got it: as I said – I choose the former. Period. Does the period help you? Because then it would be the latter. I.E., If I am a good leader, there is a chance history will remember me as a good leader.

zen out

Right, but the implication is that you are in a situation where there is no chance you will be remembered as a good leader. You can either be a good leader or be considered a good leader—but not both. I take it, though, that you would still choose to be a good leader.

My head hurts.