#ego

We mistakenly assume that bodily survival has a higher precedence than ego survival. This is simply not generally true. Ego will happily destroy the body for its own sake. Look at overweight executives headed for heart attacks on the way to getting their pictures in Fortune or anorexic models suffering slow starvation on their way to getting their pictures in Vogue. Protecting ego is the general case. ↗

— Karl Marlantes

#ego #motivation #motivational

This philistinism of interpretation is more rife in literature than in any other art. For decades now, literary critics have understood it to be their task to translate the elements of the poem or play or novel or story into something else. Sometimes a writer will be so uneasy before the naked power of his art that he will install within the work itself - albeit with a little shyness, a touch of the good taste of irony - the clear and explicit interpretation of it. Thomas Mann is an example of such an overcooperative author. In the case of more stubborn authors, the critic is only too happy to perform the job. ↗

— Susan Sontag

#allegory #criticism #art

The irony of Christianity is that believers get so angry, and self righteous toward other Christians who sin differently than they do. Christianity is like one large fraternity where brother and sisterhood is tested by hazing. ↗

— Shannon L. Alder

#criticism #ego #hazing #judgement #religion-literature

If being an egomaniac means I believe in what I do and in my art or music, then in that respect you can call me that... I believe in what I do, and I'll say it. ↗

— John Lennon

#being #believe #call #egomaniac #i

No man in public position can, under penalty of forfeiting the right to the respect of those whose regard he most values, fail as the opportunity comes to do all that in him lies for peace. ↗

— Theodore Roosevelt

#peace #respect

Oft hope is born when all is forlorn. ↗

— J.R.R. Tolkien

#elf #hope #legolas #hope

Not everything is about you," Clary said furiously. "Possibly," Jace said, "but you do have to admit that the majority of things are. ↗

— Cassandra Clare

#ego #jace-wayland #city

Yes, Your Grace," I correct her. "I am My Lady, the King's Mother, now, and you shall curtsey to me, as low as to a queen of royal blood. This was my destiny: to put my son on the throne of England, and those who laughed at my visions and doubted my vocation will call me My Lady, the King's Mother, and I shall sign myself Margaret Regina: Margaret R. ↗

— Philippa Gregory

#red-queen #the-red-queen #england

This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever. ↗

— Sigmund Freud

#freud #irish #misquote #psychoanalysis #psychology

Perhaps what I am about to say will appear strange to you gentlemen, socialists, progressives, humanitarians as you are, but I never worry about my neighbor, I never try to protect society which does not protect me -- indeed, I might add, which generally takes no heed of me except to do me harm -- and, since I hold them low in my esteem and remain neutral towards them, I believe that society and my neighbor are in my debt. ↗

— Alexandre Dumas

#philosophy #selfishness #progress