 Addams was well-read and could claim numerous and varied influences. However, Addams was no one’s protégé. Addams chose intellectual resources that resonated with her notion of sympathetic knowledge in bringing about social progress. A few significant influences are recounted here. Addams read Thomas Carlyle’s (1795–1881) work while she was attending Rockford Seminary. Carlyle’s social morality held a particular appeal to Addams. He believed the universe was ultimately good and moral and led by a divine will that worked through society’s heroes and leaders. Carlyle wrote biographies of social saviors that came in the form of poets, kings, prophets, and intellectuals, mixing in commentary that explicated his moral philosophy. However, Carlyle’s heroes reflect the evolution of society, as different contexts require different leadership. These heroes can recognize the social dynamics at work and use them for the benefit of others. Carlyle’s heroes evolved. For Carlyle, everyone has a public duty and needs to find themselves or realize their place in the world and what their work on behalf of society should be. Because of his emphasis on powerful individuals, Carlyle was not particularly fond of democracy. Although Addams shed Carlyle’s notion of individualistic heroism and his disdain for democracy, she retained the valorization of moral action throughout her career. Furthermore, Carlyle’s morality was grounded in social relations: to be moral is to be in right relation with God and others. Carlyle’s relational ethic is a precursor to Addams’ notion of sympathetic knowledge.