r/AskReddit • u/DrCompenomics • 13h ago

Who’s the best real-life example of “you either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” and what happened?

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u/stanley604 6h ago

The Continental Congress did essentially the same thing to Silas Deane. He spent his fortune on the revolutionary cause, and served as our first ambassador to France. He was key in getting the French to come in to the fight on the American side, but Congress (driven mostly by the execrable Arthur Lee) ruined his reputation and embittered him so much that he moved to England.

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u/Fresh-Anteater-5933 3h ago

I live a few miles from the Silas Deane highway so someone must still like him

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u/stanley604 2h ago

My dad restored his house in Wethersfield, as well as the Webb House next door. Both are beautiful examples of colonial New England houses (and are open to the public).

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u/BanditKitten 1h ago

Came here to say this 😹 It's just one slurred word to me. Feels like philistine or Celestine instead.