There is a great need to deepen our understanding of the psychological forces which motivate individuals whose actions in the public sphere affect the lives of all of us. T. E. Lawrence, because of an extraordinary gift of psychological insight and a compelling need for introspection brought about by his emotional suffering in World War I, has proved to be an excellent subject for such study. In this essay the author concentrates on one aspect of his psychology, the problem of self-esteem, and the relationship between this problem and Lawrence's public actions.Abstract Teaser