Thomas Fuller Quotes
Great hopes make great men.
American Proverb, Quoted in Barber, The Book of 1000 Proverbs, 1876
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
He was referring to the fact that many great men had early views that people find shocking because they are so unexpected based on their mature writings or speeches. But most great men develop personally and intellectually over their career. As an example, see {616330} for an early racist, prejudiced view of Negro laborers.
Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published in 1662, after his death. He was a prolific author, and one of the first English writers able to live by his pen (and his many patrons).