Luffy and Dragon are so different yet so similar
Dragon is a revolutionary. He is the world's most wanted man because he leads the army that goes against the government and aims to free the people of the world of One Piece.
There was always the joke about him never doing anything, and the way that it shows us that is not the case is;
Showing us just how careful and cautious Dragon is about his plans and the people he involves in it. How much the army risk just by fighting back.
Showing us what made him want to be a revolutionary in the first place. The crimes he's witnessed and the deaths he's carried.
He doesn't hesitate in his choice to leave the marines, threatening his superiors with a gun and even stands up to his dad, Garp, who just takes it because he knows he's right. Dragon knew what he was goong to fight for at the age of 17.
Dragon took years to actually build up his army, because knew that this was not something he could take lightly. If he wanted to fight back against the government, he needed the people for it.
Dragon resembles his family in stubborness, a trait that guides them in their goal or journey (Luffy as a pirate, Garp as a marine and Deagonnas a revolutionary). But he differs from them in his planning ahead.
He takes time with plans, he weighs risks in situations, and he gathers information wherever he can.
Dragon is someone who will give up on his own personal dreams for his goals. He will sacrifice pieces of himself, and who he is an individual if it meant he got to save more people.
This isn't to say that being a revolutionary leader is empty, because to Dragon, this is everything he aims for. But this role does not leave room for personal wants or even family. It poses as a danger, because it can be used against you in the grand scheme of things.
In the end, Dragon becoming the leader of the revolutionary army means he can not afford to be selfish. This decision is incredibly selfless, and the commanders under him understand (and often replicate) this.
Luffy is completely different in this regard. The entire theme about Luffy is that he is the embodiment of freedom. This usually means that he is free to make the choices he wants, without regard for the consequences. He chases what he wants, helps who he wants and listens when he wants to.
If I compare him to the two points regarding Deagon, it's easy to realise that he is almost identical in one point while directly opposite in the other.
Luffy does not think through his choices and does not wait for a 'suitable time'. He puts everything he has on the line simply because he wants to.
Luffy, despite this, breaks down completely when he loses people. After hs fight with Kuma and when he argues with Jimbe, after losing Ace, he breaks down.
Luffy is selfish. This is something he has stated time and time again, and his actions do reflect that. It's just that his version of 'selfish' is doing what he wants, which is helping the people he likes.
He does not take the time to think choices over, because he does not feel the need to. Think to that quote " 'Do I deserve this?' So irrelevant, do you want it?" and that embodies the mindset of Luffy. There are very free exceptions, and they only come when people he absolutely treasures get involved.
He drags people along, and they end up going willingly. Because that's the kind of person Luffy is. He is someone that makes you gives you the choice to pick yourself, and be selfish. To be able to 'want' and not be punished.
He gives people and countries freedom not because he was actively chasing it for the sake of justice. He does it because he cares about the people involved.
In this way, his actions aren't originating from a standpoint of "This is the right thing to do," Theyre just things he wants to do, that mean happiness for people. (He's the 'boy' who brings 'joy', hehe)
Luffy is a genuinely good person with a selfish heart that is incredibly generous. He gives love easily. He gives trust even more so.
It makes people suspicious at the start, but it just as easily breaks down those walls because he is consistently earnest in what he does. He does things unapologetically, and this prompts people to follow suit.
Luffy and Dragon are inspire the common people in vastly different ways. But it does not change that they play a major role in how thse people move foward.
The people that follow them do it with their whole heart in it, and dedicate themselves tothe goal (Dragon with the goal of revolution and Luffy with the goals being their own personal ones)