Despite their learning differences—or perhaps because of them—many famous historical figures pushed beyond the ordinary to achieve overwhelming success.
(Above: Pablo Picasso, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell)
Like many children who have difficulty with traditional learning approaches, some of our most beloved historical figures—like Pablo Picasso, Thomas Edison, and Alexander Graham Bell—struggled in school. Picasso voiced his frustration: “Don’t think I didn’t try [to learn at school],” he said. “I tried hard. I would start but immediately be lost.” Edison was described as "difficult" and hyperactive. And Bell had trouble reading and writing and was eventually homeschooled by his mother. Yet these individuals, and many others, rose to show outstanding leadership, ingenuity, courage and vision.
Here are five more famous historical figures who, despite learning differences, also exhibited extraordinary focus, talent and unique perspectives.
1. Agatha Christie
Despite being one of the most popular and prolific writers of all time, Agatha Christie had difficulty with spelling, arithmetic and the mechanical aspects of writing (dysgraphia).
“Writing and spelling were always terribly difficult for me... [I was] an extraordinarily bad speller and have remained so until this day.” —Agatha Christie
2. Winston Churchill
The Prime Minister inspired the British to victory and won the Nobel Prize for his writings and brilliant oratory. However, Churchill's early instructors could not foresee the military strategist and leader he would become. With a stutter, a lisp, terrible grades and a penchant for mischief, Churchill's report cards reflected low expectations.
“Writing good, but so terribly slow—spelling about as bad as it well can be.”
"Is a constant trouble to everybody and is always in some scrape or other. He cannot be trusted to behave himself anywhere" —Winston Churchill's Report Cards
3. Leonardo Da Vinci
With a mediocre academic record and notebooks full of misspellings Da Vinci nonetheless became one of the most creative and inventive persons in history. Many experts believe Da Vinci showed signs of dyslexia, ADHD, and "misaligned eyes." This may explain why he wrote backwards, used incorrect spellings and didn’t complete many of his projects. Current research has shown people with dyslexia are highly creative.
4. Charles Darwin
Many historians claim that Darwin suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder and mild dyslexia. His personal writings reveal difficulties with spelling and grammar. Some research indicates that it may have been Asperger's syndrome that gave Darwin hyper focus and the ability to note and record minute details.
“I believe that I was considered by all my masters and by my father as a very ordinary boy, rather below the common intelligence."—Charles Darwin
5. Muhammad Ali
World champion boxer and social activist, Muhammad Ali struggled early in life with dyslexia, barely graduating from high school due to his struggles with reading. After his success, Ali and his wife worked to improve the literacy of African Americans, creating the Go the Distance series of books and magazines selected to inspire young black readers.
“I shook up the world. Me!"—Muhammad Ali
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