disputing the "Quote of the Day"
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."
~ Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910)
This is surely not relevant in this era of the "Id," where self-help, self-promotion, excessive therapy, etc. rule and hardly leave time for individuals to notice that there's a world out there. Perhaps Tolstoy was specifically referring to the period of revolution...
posted by Goldie at 6:31 AM
2 Comments:
I feel like "changing himself" (when mentioned in comparison to changing the world) doesn't really have the same meaning as the now-ubiquitous self-help stuff. Self-help and whatnot is more caressing and improving the psyche, psychological stuff...I see "changing himself" more as actually bettering oneself and one's actions. Like making peace with your neighbor instead of trying to stop wars in Africa or
(I think both are useful, when not overdone...)
You have a point, but many of the self help books are directed at just that: helping people improve themselves and their actions such that they would be better people and interact with others better. For instance, parenting books, or books directing people on how to find meaning in life (which in essence is improving yourself to help others, and thus make your life more meaningful), and books on improving your relationships with other people, etc
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