The Power of Ideals examines the lives and work of six 20th century moral leaders who pursued moral causes ranging from world peace to social justice and human rights, and uses these six cases to show how people can make choices guided by their moral ideals rather than by base emotion or social pressures.

Perhaps most important, they clarify the necessity of authority in any moral education endeavor - and show how it is actually a powerful force for both personal freedom and character building."--BOOK JACKET.