In Plains, I saw Jimmy Carter as he really is - a nice, decent

The words of Helen Thomas—“In Plains, I saw Jimmy Carter as he really is - a nice, decent man... in terms of compassionate contribution to society, he certainly has proven to be our best past president.”—ring with the reverence of truth spoken after long observation. She, a journalist who witnessed generations of leaders rise and fall, saw in Carter not merely the trappings of office, but the deeper character of a man. In her words, we are reminded that greatness is not measured solely by political triumphs or military might, but by decency, compassion, and the enduring service to society.

The ancients would have recognized Carter as a man of aretē—virtue, lived not in grand conquests but in quiet, steadfast deeds. For history remembers kings who conquered nations, but wisdom esteems those who conquered themselves, who lived humbly, faithfully, and with devotion to the common good. In Plains, Georgia—his modest hometown—Carter returned not to a palace, but to simplicity. There, as Thomas testifies, he lived not as a man who once held the world’s highest power, but as a servant of humanity, a craftsman of compassion.

Consider his life after leaving the White House. Instead of seeking wealth or fading into obscurity, Carter built houses with his own hands through Habitat for Humanity. He taught Sunday school in his small church. He became an advocate for peace, human rights, and the eradication of disease. In every act, he showed that leadership does not end when one leaves office, but continues wherever there is need. His greatness was not in wielding power, but in surrendering it, and then using his time to heal, to build, and to uplift.

Helen Thomas, who covered presidents from Kennedy onward, spoke these words because she knew the contrast well. Many leaders pursue legacy through monuments or wars. Yet Carter’s legacy was of a different kind: the legacy of the compassionate contribution. When others sought recognition, he sought reconciliation. When others sought to be remembered as strong, he chose instead to be remembered as good. And Thomas, with the clarity of age and perspective, honored him as perhaps the finest of past presidents, not in policy alone, but in humanity.

This truth carries weight for every generation. For society is not healed by might alone; it is healed by compassion lived daily. The true test of greatness lies not in the applause of the moment but in the enduring impact of kindness upon the forgotten, the poor, the sick, and the weary. Carter’s example proves that decency, often dismissed as weakness, is in fact the most enduring strength. Empires crumble, but compassion endures in the lives it touches.

The lesson for us is profound: live not for titles, but for service. You may never be a president or ruler, but you can be remembered as Carter is remembered—by the measure of your kindness, the steadiness of your integrity, and the compassion you extend to those who cannot repay you. Every house built, every hand lifted, every act of mercy is a stone laid in the foundation of a better society. To live this way is to ensure that your life’s legacy is one of enduring worth.

Practically, this means turning our gaze outward. Seek ways to contribute beyond yourself. Serve in your community, care for the vulnerable, and give your time and strength to causes that uplift others. In so doing, you walk in the footsteps of Carter, proving that the truest greatness is not what you take from society, but what you give back.

Thus, Helen Thomas’s words endure as both tribute and teaching: “In terms of compassionate contribution to society, he certainly has proven to be our best past president.” Take them as counsel for your own life. For the world has enough conquerors, enough seekers of glory. What it longs for are men and women of decency—those who, like Carter, will be remembered not only for the offices they held, but for the humanity they gave. In this lies the noblest path, the one that future generations will call blessed.