The Sacrifice

 

The Sacrifice

 

Eric Hoffer on Pages 75 and 76 of his book, The True Believer, talks of why the frustrate are willing to sacrifice themselves and their lives. I quote him and then respond.

 

Hoffer (H after this): “                         ‘Things Which Are Not”

 

                                                            54

 

One of the rules that emerges from a consideration of the factors that promote self-sacrifice is that we are less ready to die for what we have or are than for what we wish to have and to be. It is a perplexing and unpleasant truth that when men already have ‘something worth fighting for,’ they do not feel like fighting. People who live full, worth-while lives are not usually ready to die for their own interests nor for their country nor for a holy cause. Craving, not having, is the mother of the reckless giving of oneself.”

 

My response: Here is another Hofferian paradox on display. The true believer, the false binary thinker, the extremist, the purist, the fanatic is willing to sacrifice his life not for what he has or is, but for he wishes to have or to be. Those without full, successful lives crave to give up their lives for some cause, whereas those, successful, competent, and enjoying a contented life, do not want to die for some cause, unless the need be dire.

 

The true believer has nothing to offer and nothing to lose but is willing to give his life for his holy cause. The contented person has so much to offer and lose, and lives in the present, so he has zero ambition to give up his life—the life he is thoroughly enjoying and is rewarded every day for living—for some nebulous cause. Yet, many consider the fanatic, the idealist, to be the more moral person, but, I, as a moderate and conservative, believe that the person leading a moral and successful daily life here in the present, is usually the morally superior person to the radical or revolutionary seeking to burn everything down.

 

‘Things which are not’ are indeed mightier than ‘things that are.’ In all ages men have fought most desperately for beautiful cities yet to be built and gardens yet to be planted. Satan did not digress to tell all he knew when he said: ‘All that a man hath will he give for his life.’ All he hath—yes. But he sooner dies that yield aught of that which he hath not yet.

 

It is strange, indeed, that those who hug to the present and hang on to it with all their might should be the least capable of defending it. And that, on the other hand, those who spurn the present and dust their hands of it should have all its gifts and treasures showered on them unasked.

 

Dreams, visions and wild hopes are mighty weapons and realistic tools. The practical-mindedness of the true leader consists in recognizing the practical value of these tools. Yet this recognition usually stems from a contempt of the present which can be traced to a natural ineptitude in practical affairs. The successful businessman is often a failure as a communal leader because his mind is attuned to the ‘things that are’ and his heart is set on that which can be accomplished in ‘our time.’ Failure in the management of practical affairs seems to be a qualification for success in the management of public affairs. And it is perhaps fortunate that some proud natures when suffering defeat in the practical world do not feel crushed but are suddenly fired with the apparently absurd conviction that they are eminently competent to direct the fortunes of the community and the nation.”

 

My response: With these rejects from private commerce fleeing over to the public sector where they screwed up so they can move up, this is why I am for limited government and am an anarchist within constitutional republicanism.