It is a difficult thing to build something out of manpower alone — of joining people together behind a common good, and pushing them forward. Whether it be by flying into space, or tearing down walls, or rebuilding not just your own body after war but the perceptions of everyone who sees you. This is the work of citizens. Here, the wisdom ten great ones have learned and shared with Esquire.

“The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another.” — Buzz Aldrin

“Without the foundation of the family, it’s very hard to be a good human being.” — Mikhail Gorbachev

“The hostage crisis lasted almost a year. Most of my political advisors were urging me to launch an attack against Iran. I could have, in effect, destroyed Iran with one strike. And it would have been politically popular to do so. But in the process, I would have also killed thousands of innocent Iranians. And it would have undoubtedly resulted in the execution of our hostages. But the pressure on me from the news media and from other sources was ‘You’ve got to lash out at these criminals.’ During that time, I would sit with my family at the dinner table at the White House, and they would ask, ‘Daddy, why don’t you launch an attack? Why don’t you destroy them?’ I would explain to them more directly and personally and maybe more sincerely what all the considerations were in my mind. And they gave me support and strength. My family tied me back to the human element in the most important international, diplomatic, and military decisions I had to make. And in the end, I was thankful that although my profession was that of a military man — commander in chief of the armed forces, prepared to defend my nation with maximum force if I had to — I was able to go through my entire term in office without firing a bullet, dropping a bomb, or launching a missile.” — Jimmy Carter

“I’ve heard that some of the people here are intimidated by me because I’m a triple amputee with a great attitude. They shouldn’t feel that way. Everybody has their own problems. You could be a single amputee but have something else wrong with you. I’m missing my legs and a hand, but other than that, I’m perfect. I’m very healthy. I’m still athletic. You don’t have to be intimidated because you think I have more problems than you. It’s not true. I don’t have many problems. Not anymore. I’m fine. It’s just part of who I am, coming from good roots, good parents. I have good people around me. They instilled good values in me, and I grew out of that, manners, holding doors open for girls, being courteous to people, always trying to stay positive.” — Bryan Anderson

“To get people to see beyond themselves is the most difficult thing of all.” — James Meredith

“Having a child with cancer reaches to the very depths of your soul. Particularly because there is so little you can do, yet certainly more that you can do now than when Teddy had it. We were fortunate to have access to good health care. Secondly, fortunate to have health insurance. Many of the parents I met at the hospital had children who were taking a similar treatment. The treatment was to last for two years. Some parents sold their houses to pay for it. Some could only afford twelve or fourteen months of the treatment. They were asking the doctors: ‘What percent does that reduce my child’s chances of being able to survive?’ So, you ask me why I’m for health care. I didn’t need a reason before, but that’s a reason I’ll never forget.” — Ted Kennedy

“I think the phrase ‘kindler and gentler’ resonated. I don’t remember how I came up with it. Probably some speechwriter wrote it. But I felt that way. Still do.” — George H. W. Bush

“There is no contradiction between a soft heart and a hard head.” — Robert McNamara

“You ask how much patience it’s going to take. All I can say is this goes back to Dr. King and the letter from the Birmingham jail. He talks about how people counsel patience, and he talked about how he was impatient and desired to resolve things. We’re well past the time where patience would be a virtue. It is time for us to act with dispatch.” — Eric Holder

“Success needs no explanation. Failure does not have one that matters.” — Jesse Jackson

For more wisdom and life lessons from world leaders, cultural icons, and athletes, head to Esquire.com.