Albert Schweitzer

Founded a hospital at Lambaréné in Gabon in 1913 after earning a medical degree, and spent most of the rest of his life expanding it to about seventy buildings; the Nobel Foundation notes he used his Nobel Peace Prize money to start a leprosarium there.

Wrote The Quest of the Historical Jesus (1906), which argued that earlier lives of Jesus had projected their authors' liberal ideals and became a lasting work of biblical criticism, and later set out his 'reverence for life' ethic.

Was an internationally known concert organist and Bach scholar, writing a Bach biography (1905) and a book on organ building (1906) and beginning an eight-volume edition of Bach's organ works; his engagements helped pay for his medical studies and hospital.

Returning to Lambaréné in 1924 after internment as a German citizen, Schweitzer found the hospital decayed and partly reclaimed by the jungle and rebuilt it upstream.

This is consistent with sustained effort to continue a project through setbacks. Persistence

In a 1964 review, Conor Cruise O'Brien reported that educated Africans saw resistance to change in Schweitzer and, relaying Gerald McKnight's account, that he kept Lambaréné unmodernised because he believed 'simple people' would not come to a modern hospital.

This is consistent with a documented critique that he was slow to change his methods, though it is critical commentary rather than a dated episode. Belief Updating

In 1905 Schweitzer, already a theology teacher, preacher and organist, began studying medicine at Strasbourg to serve in Africa, financing the studies with concerts and lectures.

This is consistent with a deliberate change of career toward service. Impact Motivation