Léon Blum was the first socialist and the first Jewish prime minister of France. Elected in 1936 amid the rise of Adolf Hitler, he opposed fascism and set to work reforming the French economy by promoting workers’ rights: He instituted wage increases, a standard 40-hour work week, paid vacation, and the right to bargain and strike. Blum saw all citizens as equal, and championed the pursuit of freedom and peace throughout his political career.

Failure is an inescapable part of the journey to achieving something great — whether it’s a personal goal, an academic standard, or, for American engineer and inventor Charles Kettering, the next big patent. Known for such inventions as the electrical starting motor and leaded gasoline (among others), Kettering understood that a good innovator can — and should — fail as many times as necessary on the way to success.

Known for her optical illusion-inspired couture creations, Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen has made a name for herself as a creative visionary capable of translating fantastical concepts into wearable art. In a 2016 interview with The Talks, van Herpen offered her perspective on the subjective line between reality and dreams, explaining, "I try to stretch the boundaries or the perception of boundaries that we give ourselves." In other words, to do something brand new, we need to recognize that often the only differences between dreams and reality are the limitations we create for ourselves.