Researchers in the field of positive psychology took the strengths and virtues of what it means to be a great person from most civilizations, past and present, and found that there were many common strengths and virtues in those civilizations, 24 to be exact.
Wisdom and Knowledge
o Creativity
o Curiosity
o Open-mindedness
o Love of learning
o Perspective wisdom
Courage
o Bravery
o Persistence
o Integrity
o Vitality
Humanity
o Love
o Kindness
o Social intelligence
Justice
o Citizenship
o Fairness
o Leadership
Temperance – strengths that protect against excess
o Forgiveness and mercy
o Humility and Modesty
o Prudence
o Self-regulation [self-control]
Transcendence - strengths that forge connections to the larger universe and provide meaning
o Appreciation of beauty and excellence
o Gratitude
o Hope
o Humor playfulness
o Spirituality
So to be a great person, you should attempt to strengthen all these traits within yourself.
The list is from
this Wikipedia page, and you can find out more about positive psychology
here.