Their heroism lay in their creative energy in the face of these difficulties, not in their moral perfection. This quote from Carlyle's book depicts his belief in the power of the hero. Carlyle was an essayist, a satirist, and an historian who believed in the importance of the hero as a leader. Muhammad is portrayed as a "Prophet as hero" in one chapter, thus keeping with Carlyle's determination to bring the cultures of the east and west together.