Had not the great writer and thinker Montesquieu himself said the republic relied on virtue, and virtue consisted in the capacity of individuals to exercise their own freely-formed judgment?

BBC: Why does France insist school pupils master philosophy?

The writer and Islamic thinker strongly opposed Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan, arguing at the time that it would divide the Muslim community.

BBC: Bangladesh war crimes trial: Key defendants

Chris Anderson is a wonderful thinker and writer, and I can hardly wait for his book.

FORBES: Free Vs. Inflation

He was a prolific thinker and writer.

FORBES: James M. Buchanan: Economist, Philosopher, and Teacher. Requiescat In Pace.

But focus on the passion that got you there and keep that alive, and you will indeed be a motivational speaker, not to mention colleague, worker, expert, thinker, writer, and friend.

FORBES: There's No Such Thing as a Motivational Speaker

Former prime minister Gordon Brown paid tribute, describing Mr Wicks as "a great thinker, writer, campaigner and parliamentarian".

BBC: Labour's Malcolm Wicks dies at 65

Auden, Elizabeth Hardwick, Mary McCarthy, Norman Mailer, Gore Vidal and Robert Penn Warren, pointed towards what was to come: a continuous stream of essays, usually discussing a book or books, and usually written by someone recognised as a writer, scholar or thinker of distinction.

ECONOMIST: Barbara Epstein, editor, died on June 16th, aged 77