I think it was somwehere between the ages of 13 and 20 that I was given to understand, categorically, by anyone whose opinion I cared to respect, that "Ego" is certainly not one of the virtues of human kind. That being selfless, and crushing one's ego such that it merges with the universal will should actually be the spiritual aim of one's life.
And then, I read "Fountain head" by Ayn Rand. !!
The story of the exalted nature of man's self in all expressions ranging from self respect, self esteem, self worth, self contempt and personal dignity jolted me out of any conventional values that I have upheld for the last 2 decades!
"As a matter of fact, the person who loves everybody and feels at home everywhere is the true hater of mankind. He expects nothing of men, so no form of depravity can outrage him"
Such an outburst of refreshing philosohphy at a time too when the world's most well known men are judged by their "uselfullness" to the society measured by their charitable contributions and alrtuistic motives! This complete worship given to the individual man and to his ability to contribute something of his own taste to the world, not as a work of charity, not as a sign of selflessness, but as a work of self expression, as an expression of the drive within him because of which he finds it unable to resist his own creative thirst, as a tribute to the best within himself, and as a token of respect to his own self worth, makes me feel so liberated, because I KNOW now, that to be able to do what you really want to do, takes the greatest amount of courage and unless you think yourself worthy of nothing but the highest happiness, you might not have the courage to give yourself that happiness.
The book certainly requires a level of maturity to be able to grasp the essentials and ignore the extremist notions as literary license. It lays bare a series of controversial ideas boldly, without an apology, without inhibitions or hesitation, much like Vidya Balan's performance in "The Dirty Picture".
I can only imagine the supreme self worth that one should possess to charter one's life's journey to the ultimate goal - "The truth". Albert Eintein, Isaac Newton,William Wordsworth and even Steven Speilberg made it their life's business to embrace that very elusive "Truth" through an expression of their creativity or scientific prowess! None of them started out to serve their fellow men, but one cannot refute that their contributions to the society are amongst the most humungous! And I cannot help but remember Aamir Khan's dialogue in 3 idiots where he says " Dont go behind success, go behind excellence and then success will fight to follow you!!!"
I questioned myself on the theory that being an egoist automatically translates into arrogance and a lack of consideration for others. But then look at it this way....an egoist is also one who considers himself so above comparison with his fellow beings, that he is spared the lesser emotions of jealousy, hatred and envy. He is some one who is the symbol of nothing else save himself. He is the one who, at the end of his life, would be comfortable with the consciousness that he would not have the protective cloak of "concern / consideration for others", to explain away the wrong decisions of his life. He answers to none but himself and since he owes himself nothing but the highest truth, is beyond the necessity to lie, cheat and decieve himself for any of his ends. And neither would he stoop to conquer!
SUCH an exalted respect for self may be completely devoid of pity or sympathy,emotions which lack of respect in their momentary consciousness. But it elevates one to feel no emotions which lacks respect for one's fellowmen, as they challenge his ego - through their own creative intelligence! This could be the highest tribute that one man can pay to another! The emotion, the secret force, which is probably the reason behind why the competitors in any meaningfull pursuit, also think of themselves as comrades in arms!
I remember a great speech where the orator stumbled onto a particularly precious line when he said that one hears about "falling" in love all the time! When do you think we will start "rising" in love?
Given below are 2 of my favourite excerpts from the book - and I hope my readers find my need to express these words here justified, as they relate to the import of the dialogues below -
1 - “The egotist is the absolute sense is not the man who sacrifices others. He is the man who stands above the need of using others in any manner. He does not function through them. He is not concerned with them in any primary matter. Not in his aim, not in his motive, not in his thinking, not in his desires, not in the source of his energy. He does not exist for any other man—and he asks no other man to exist for him. This is the only form of brotherhood and mutual respect possible between men."
2 -" No, he thought, I regret nothing. There have been things I missed, but I ask no questions, because I have loved it, such as it has been, even the moments of emptiness, even the unanswered–and that I loved it, *that* is the unanswered in my life. But I loved it.
“If it were true, that old legend about appearing before a supreme judge and naming one’s record, I would offer, with all my pride, not any act I committed, but one thing I have never done on this earth: that I never sought an outside sanction. I would stand and say: I am Gail Wynand, the man who has committed every crime except the foremost one: that of ascribing futility to the wonderful fact of existence and seeking justification beyond myself. This is my pride: that now, thinking of the end, I do not cry like all the men of my age: but what was the use and the meaning? *I* was the use and meaning, I, Gail Wynand. That I lived and that I acted."
I have not read this book - I have felt it and lived it. While there are some irrational and impractical notions that I have endeavoured to neglect owing to the overall brilliance of Ayn Rand's performance, reading the book felt like a gift to myself, and a certain step towards self discovery!
And then, I read "Fountain head" by Ayn Rand. !!
The story of the exalted nature of man's self in all expressions ranging from self respect, self esteem, self worth, self contempt and personal dignity jolted me out of any conventional values that I have upheld for the last 2 decades!
"As a matter of fact, the person who loves everybody and feels at home everywhere is the true hater of mankind. He expects nothing of men, so no form of depravity can outrage him"
Such an outburst of refreshing philosohphy at a time too when the world's most well known men are judged by their "uselfullness" to the society measured by their charitable contributions and alrtuistic motives! This complete worship given to the individual man and to his ability to contribute something of his own taste to the world, not as a work of charity, not as a sign of selflessness, but as a work of self expression, as an expression of the drive within him because of which he finds it unable to resist his own creative thirst, as a tribute to the best within himself, and as a token of respect to his own self worth, makes me feel so liberated, because I KNOW now, that to be able to do what you really want to do, takes the greatest amount of courage and unless you think yourself worthy of nothing but the highest happiness, you might not have the courage to give yourself that happiness.
The book certainly requires a level of maturity to be able to grasp the essentials and ignore the extremist notions as literary license. It lays bare a series of controversial ideas boldly, without an apology, without inhibitions or hesitation, much like Vidya Balan's performance in "The Dirty Picture".
I can only imagine the supreme self worth that one should possess to charter one's life's journey to the ultimate goal - "The truth". Albert Eintein, Isaac Newton,William Wordsworth and even Steven Speilberg made it their life's business to embrace that very elusive "Truth" through an expression of their creativity or scientific prowess! None of them started out to serve their fellow men, but one cannot refute that their contributions to the society are amongst the most humungous! And I cannot help but remember Aamir Khan's dialogue in 3 idiots where he says " Dont go behind success, go behind excellence and then success will fight to follow you!!!"
I questioned myself on the theory that being an egoist automatically translates into arrogance and a lack of consideration for others. But then look at it this way....an egoist is also one who considers himself so above comparison with his fellow beings, that he is spared the lesser emotions of jealousy, hatred and envy. He is some one who is the symbol of nothing else save himself. He is the one who, at the end of his life, would be comfortable with the consciousness that he would not have the protective cloak of "concern / consideration for others", to explain away the wrong decisions of his life. He answers to none but himself and since he owes himself nothing but the highest truth, is beyond the necessity to lie, cheat and decieve himself for any of his ends. And neither would he stoop to conquer!
SUCH an exalted respect for self may be completely devoid of pity or sympathy,emotions which lack of respect in their momentary consciousness. But it elevates one to feel no emotions which lacks respect for one's fellowmen, as they challenge his ego - through their own creative intelligence! This could be the highest tribute that one man can pay to another! The emotion, the secret force, which is probably the reason behind why the competitors in any meaningfull pursuit, also think of themselves as comrades in arms!
I remember a great speech where the orator stumbled onto a particularly precious line when he said that one hears about "falling" in love all the time! When do you think we will start "rising" in love?
Given below are 2 of my favourite excerpts from the book - and I hope my readers find my need to express these words here justified, as they relate to the import of the dialogues below -
1 - “The egotist is the absolute sense is not the man who sacrifices others. He is the man who stands above the need of using others in any manner. He does not function through them. He is not concerned with them in any primary matter. Not in his aim, not in his motive, not in his thinking, not in his desires, not in the source of his energy. He does not exist for any other man—and he asks no other man to exist for him. This is the only form of brotherhood and mutual respect possible between men."
2 -" No, he thought, I regret nothing. There have been things I missed, but I ask no questions, because I have loved it, such as it has been, even the moments of emptiness, even the unanswered–and that I loved it, *that* is the unanswered in my life. But I loved it.
“If it were true, that old legend about appearing before a supreme judge and naming one’s record, I would offer, with all my pride, not any act I committed, but one thing I have never done on this earth: that I never sought an outside sanction. I would stand and say: I am Gail Wynand, the man who has committed every crime except the foremost one: that of ascribing futility to the wonderful fact of existence and seeking justification beyond myself. This is my pride: that now, thinking of the end, I do not cry like all the men of my age: but what was the use and the meaning? *I* was the use and meaning, I, Gail Wynand. That I lived and that I acted."
I have not read this book - I have felt it and lived it. While there are some irrational and impractical notions that I have endeavoured to neglect owing to the overall brilliance of Ayn Rand's performance, reading the book felt like a gift to myself, and a certain step towards self discovery!
