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Twelve general complaints about a certain version of "self-reliance" (and one amusing note):
1) Intuition can be WRONG.
2) It is, in fact, possible to feel deep, genuine concern about people you've never met - if not on the level of what their interests and dislike are, on the level of "Hey, wouldn't it be really nice if these people weren't stunted and STARVING TO DEATH?"
3) Perhaps this is rare, but I am a sucker who genuinely bought into all that 'Children are awesome, adults suck' tripe present in many children's shows and books and the occasional self-hating adult's philosophical piece. I have discovered, as a result, that children are really stupid and arrogant, and that there's a REASON growing up is generally considered a good thing.
4) Not all impulses are good. If your only impulses are goodness and generosity and the general gratification of yourself & those around you, with perhaps the occasional nasty or stupid one - well, you don't need me to bless your heart, because you already walk in blessing. Others of us are inclined to suppress impulses to retaliate against people who have done us wrong and feel no remorse, to go berserk on people who are smugly preaching something undeniably stupid, or to generally make extreme asses of ourselves because our ineffable whims state that it would really be an excellent idea to do such things on the spur of the moment. Kindly understand if perhaps we're rather cynical about that glorious idol called Whim.
5) It is possible to BOTH be sympathetic AND be honest. If you think this isn't possible, you either need to work on your sympathy or your honesty.
6) Consistency is important inasmuch as flakes seem GIBBERING MAD if they change their opinion every other day. You want to be inconsistent as your spirit calls you? Fine! But you had better have a bloody good reason for your change of views.
7) " Greatness appeals to the future." As does mortal idiocy, the extent of which cannot be fully grasped for generations.
8) Anyone who can speak of "Sparta" and "nonconformity" as being even vaguely in the same category is an utter imbecile.
9) People look back to the past because it is much easier to see in retrospect who were the greatest men and women of an era than who currently are the greatest men and women of this era. The same goes for the greatest ideas, greatest institutions, et cetera. And there's a reason why the quote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." is so popular...
10) The value of communication is that others may be able to see what one has overlooked, or have knowledge that one does not have oneself. One does NOT attain great knowledge by sitting around contemplating one's navel all day!
11) Discontent can arise EITHER from an infirmity of will OR from having all the will in the world, but discovering that it doesn't bring success. You can do your utmost but not succeed.
12) Those who sneer about how the feelings of the "multitude" have no deep cause should be well-advised that the multitude dislikes them for more reasons than their grand nonconformity.
Bonus:
13) "Our age yields no great and perfect persons." Hilariously, this was written in 1841. Please throw this line in the face of anyone preaching that our age is so much worse than any which have come before, will you? All people who claim such things in any age should be roundly mocked.
In summary, Ralph Waldo Emerson is overrated.
2) It is, in fact, possible to feel deep, genuine concern about people you've never met - if not on the level of what their interests and dislike are, on the level of "Hey, wouldn't it be really nice if these people weren't stunted and STARVING TO DEATH?"
3) Perhaps this is rare, but I am a sucker who genuinely bought into all that 'Children are awesome, adults suck' tripe present in many children's shows and books and the occasional self-hating adult's philosophical piece. I have discovered, as a result, that children are really stupid and arrogant, and that there's a REASON growing up is generally considered a good thing.
4) Not all impulses are good. If your only impulses are goodness and generosity and the general gratification of yourself & those around you, with perhaps the occasional nasty or stupid one - well, you don't need me to bless your heart, because you already walk in blessing. Others of us are inclined to suppress impulses to retaliate against people who have done us wrong and feel no remorse, to go berserk on people who are smugly preaching something undeniably stupid, or to generally make extreme asses of ourselves because our ineffable whims state that it would really be an excellent idea to do such things on the spur of the moment. Kindly understand if perhaps we're rather cynical about that glorious idol called Whim.
5) It is possible to BOTH be sympathetic AND be honest. If you think this isn't possible, you either need to work on your sympathy or your honesty.
6) Consistency is important inasmuch as flakes seem GIBBERING MAD if they change their opinion every other day. You want to be inconsistent as your spirit calls you? Fine! But you had better have a bloody good reason for your change of views.
7) " Greatness appeals to the future." As does mortal idiocy, the extent of which cannot be fully grasped for generations.
8) Anyone who can speak of "Sparta" and "nonconformity" as being even vaguely in the same category is an utter imbecile.
9) People look back to the past because it is much easier to see in retrospect who were the greatest men and women of an era than who currently are the greatest men and women of this era. The same goes for the greatest ideas, greatest institutions, et cetera. And there's a reason why the quote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." is so popular...
10) The value of communication is that others may be able to see what one has overlooked, or have knowledge that one does not have oneself. One does NOT attain great knowledge by sitting around contemplating one's navel all day!
11) Discontent can arise EITHER from an infirmity of will OR from having all the will in the world, but discovering that it doesn't bring success. You can do your utmost but not succeed.
12) Those who sneer about how the feelings of the "multitude" have no deep cause should be well-advised that the multitude dislikes them for more reasons than their grand nonconformity.
Bonus:
13) "Our age yields no great and perfect persons." Hilariously, this was written in 1841. Please throw this line in the face of anyone preaching that our age is so much worse than any which have come before, will you? All people who claim such things in any age should be roundly mocked.
In summary, Ralph Waldo Emerson is overrated.
