Jane Austen was an English writer known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century..

Marcus Aurelius (April 26, 121 CE – March 17, 180 CE) was a Roman Emperor (161–180 CE) born into a wealthy patrician family in Rome. Raised by his mother and paternal grandfather after his father's death, he is best known for his *Meditations*, a series of private writings on Stoic philosophy that remain a key source for understanding ancient Stoicism.

Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period.

Adam Smith was a Scottish economist and philosopher who was a pioneer in the field of political economy and key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment.

French aristocrat and political thinker Alexis Charles Henri de Tocqueville transformed how the world understood democracy through his keen observations of 19th-century America.

William James Durant was an American historian and philosopher, best known for his eleven-volume work, The Story of Civilization, which contains and details the history of Eastern and Western civilizations.