From the philosophers of ancient Greece to the hipsters of today, men and beards have been synonymous throughout history.

Hockey teams even grow beards as a superstition during playoffs.

During “No-Shave November,” let us pay respect to 10 of the greatest beards throughout history.

10. Colonel Sanders

The famous founder of KFC can be seen on any package of his fried chicken. What I’m not sure about is if it’s his well-maintained goatee or chicken that is “finger-lickin’ good.”

 

9. Chuck Norris

Legends about Norris’ beard are world famous and can be found all around the Internet. Some say it hides a third fist, others say he uses it to sharpen knives. One thing’s for sure: it is epic.

 

8. Ernest Hemingway

There are few men who are manlier than Hemingway. The hunter, fisherman, writer, solider and drinker exemplifies being an outdoorsman. To take his manliness to the next level, he grew a beard. A wise beard, fit for a man who knew how to tell a story.

 

7. Abraham Lincoln

The story of Lincoln’s beard can be found in a few letters between 11-year-old Grace Bedell and Lincoln himself. Bedell wrote to Lincoln, telling him his presidential prospects would go better if he grew a beard. He did, and the rest is history.

 

6. James “Grizzly” Adams

His nickname is Grizzly and he was a mountain man — who raised bears. If he didn’t have an awesome beard, would anyone care that he trained grizzly bears?

 

5. ZZ Top

This band has beards so long, they could be cast as Gandalf and Dumbledore. Ironically, the drummer, Frank Beard, has no beard.

 

4. Charles Darwin

The biologist’s beard is not as famous his book, “On the Origin of Species,” but it may be the most recognizable facial hair in all of science. Oddly enough, he grew it to become unrecognizable.

 

 

3. Karl Marx

The Father of Communism, Karl Marx, had one big ol’ beard. It would be hard not to pay attention to a revolutionist when you cannot figure out what is talking — the man or the beard.  

 

2. Rasputin

As a mystical faith healer, it is safe to say you need a beard that can rival Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend. Rasputin accomplished that and was real — while still keeping an acute sense of mystery.

 

1. Walt Whitman

A truly great beard that would make Santa Claus jealous.

Whitman is one of the most loved poets of all time.  His beard is equally as iconic. So iconic, that it is mentioned in many poems that he is the subject of.