"Curacao has lost a driven politician who fought for his ideals and loved his country, " Mr Rutte said.

BBC: Curacao politician Helmin Wiels shot dead

Indeed, Wiggins has won a spot in French cycling fans' hearts for his adherence to the ideals of good sportsmanship.

WSJ: Tour de France: The Divine Comedy of Cycling Etiquette--Bradley Wiggins, Christopher Froome

In 2008, Mr Obama was something of a Rorschach test for his supporters - a vessel for hopes, ideals and aspirations.

BBC: US election: A vote for the status quo

Sanitising his past was, in fact, a necessary act of self-protection for Wordsworth: many of his contemporaries found their careers blighted for good by their early commitment to revolutionary ideals.

ECONOMIST: British poets