Probably greatness is most powerful if there are enough powerful mediocrities to work against.
Bismarck? Or
>his liberal father
Might be a stretch to imply that the Wilhelm II was a mediocre illiberal. HIM was (for a time) interested in protecting workers' rights. However great he was, Bismarck couldn't overpower a "mediocre" populist
https://germanhistorydocs.org/en/forging-an-empire-bismarcki...
Bismarck? Or
>his liberal father
Might be a stretch to imply that the Wilhelm II was a mediocre illiberal. HIM was (for a time) interested in protecting workers' rights. However great he was, Bismarck couldn't overpower a "mediocre" populist
https://germanhistorydocs.org/en/forging-an-empire-bismarcki...