The desire to follow, to imitate, to be loyal, which prevails in the world at large, is the antithesis of understanding. You all want to be free, but freedom can only be achieved when you are above loyalty, above the desire to imitate,above the desire to be attached to the thoughts of another.Even among cultured people there is the tendency to reduce all ideas to form, to some definite and concrete pattern and then to reproduce that concreteness in themselves. The only way to step beyond this stage of limitation, which in its essence is mediocrity, is to aim at true freedom.
Most people think that freedom means to be able to do just what they please; but true freedom does not imply lack of discipline, or restraint and control.Permit me for a moment, I will take my own example. I have always wanted to be free,that's one of the reasons for leaving High School ;I did not want to be like everyone else in my school. And I think I am now free from the circles that have been drawn around me, that is, the circumstances around me. Everyone, in his life, has certain special circumstances, which force him, urge him to mold himself to a particular pattern. I think genius is ( I,m not implying anything) a person who frees himself from those circumstances,and grows beyond them. As I wanted to be free, I had to watch all the time what circles were being drawn round me. It is very easy to follow, to be loyal to someone else,it is easy to say...."well, this is what Maslow says" and be loyal to his thoughts , but it is much more difficult to be loyal to oneself . It seems to me that the spirit of mediocrity can only be conquered if everyone tries all the time to struggle, to put aside those influences, which urge him to conform, and to mold himself to a pattern.
Your thoughts, as always.
Most people think that freedom means to be able to do just what they please; but true freedom does not imply lack of discipline, or restraint and control.Permit me for a moment, I will take my own example. I have always wanted to be free,that's one of the reasons for leaving High School ;I did not want to be like everyone else in my school. And I think I am now free from the circles that have been drawn around me, that is, the circumstances around me. Everyone, in his life, has certain special circumstances, which force him, urge him to mold himself to a particular pattern. I think genius is ( I,m not implying anything) a person who frees himself from those circumstances,and grows beyond them. As I wanted to be free, I had to watch all the time what circles were being drawn round me. It is very easy to follow, to be loyal to someone else,it is easy to say...."well, this is what Maslow says" and be loyal to his thoughts , but it is much more difficult to be loyal to oneself . It seems to me that the spirit of mediocrity can only be conquered if everyone tries all the time to struggle, to put aside those influences, which urge him to conform, and to mold himself to a pattern.
Your thoughts, as always.
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