This statesman was no conqueror, but his superiority consisted in his moral conquest; this President vanquished no foreign people, and his superiority lay in his self-constraint; this excellent judge of human nature cast a spell over nobody, yet is more fascinating than the shining victors of history.

Ludwig contrasts the usual measures of greatness—military conquest, domination over others, charismatic “spellbinding” power—with a quieter kind of superiority grounded in moral discipline. The “moral conquest” and “self-constraint” suggest a leader whose chief victories are internal: mastering impulses, resisting vanity, and governing by character rather than force. By calling this figure “more fascinating than the shining victors of history,” Ludwig argues that ethical restraint can be more compelling—and ultimately more admirable—than spectacular triumphs. The passage also implies a critique of hero-worship: true historical significance may lie not in subjugating nations but in exemplifying humane judgment and integrity.