Longings

 

On Page 25 of his book, The Passionate State of Mind, Eric Hoffer writes to entries which I quote and then comment on.

 

Hoffer: “            31

 

Man’s longings are the raw material of his creativeness, his dreams, his excesses, his self-sacrifice, his urge to build and destroy. A man’s soul is pierced as it were with holes, and as his longings flow through each they are transmuted into something specific. The flow through one outlet affects the flow through all other holes. Creativeness is a leak, so are dissipation, self-sacrifice, acquisition, the fever of building and the frenzy of destruction; the love of women, of God, and of humanity.”

 

My response: We choose what to long for, how to prioritize our longs, and which goal we will work to complete.

 

Hoffer: “            32

 

A social order is stable so long as it can give scope to talent and youth. Youth itself is a talent—a perishable talent.”

 

My response: The young need egoist morality, the art and life of maverizing. Life is short so they should get going and get after it in their early 20s.

Both the young and the talented need positive outlets, lest their energy and enthusiasm be used against society.