Interpretation of Todorov

Both heroism and saintliness are rigid in their goals and the means by which they achieve them. For instance, dignity is the epitome of freedom, while caring demands some restriction of freedom. Heroism is characterized by the value put on the ideal; a value higher than that put on the hero’s own life. However, Todorov states later that there are also ordinary values that are much more suited towards applications in times of peace. The author believes that when one’s goals and inspirations are so broad and lofty, it is difficult to see “the forest for the trees”, so to speak. Heroism implies an incredible act that pursues the upholding of some ideal, whether possible or not, with complete loyalty to that abstract concept.

Todorov presents two versions of heroism as well. Death is the ultimate end to the hero’s battle for honor. God and their faith, above all else, rule their actions. c values such as courage, perserverance, loyalty, etc. Saints are quite the same in their quest for honor, but their honor is not for an ideal such as the country, but for God. While heroism serves the concept, ordinary virtues serve the specific individual recipient of the deed. Thinking only of God’s will and the grand design, one forgets the individuals for whom the grand design was made to benefit, and this was often he case in the totalitarian actions of the Nazi and Communist regimes.

According to Todorov, there are two classes of virtues: those of heroism and ordinary virtues.