The Pattern

 

On Page 72 of his book, The Passionate State of Mind, Eric Hoffer has two entries which I quote and then comment on.

 

Hoffer: “          122

 

There is in human affairs a reciprocity and equilibrium between cause and effect. The cause can be as much affected by the effect, as the effect is produced by the cause. Indeed, it is often quite possible to produce the cause by staging the effect.

 

Whatever good or evil we start in life will tend to justify and perpetuate itself.”

 

My response: This is a deceptively subtle quote and difficult to decipher, but here goes. Hoffer would seem to be making a metaphysical claim that history and time are reversible as well as forward effective, that causes produce effects which then influence the cause. He may not mean that history is reversible, but that, going forward, the cause is altered and determined by the effect as much as the cause, now altered by pushback from the effect, is more deterministic, heading in one direct, or in one moral mode.

 

The push-pull dynamic between cause and effect likely guarantees that our early moral character, once fully developed, be our will a good will or a bad will, is a pattern that we will adhere to for a lifetime, no matter the immortal consequences.

 

We must try to nudge young people to build a good will for themselves. They still must choose freely which way they will lean.

 

 

 

 

Hoffer:  “         123

 

It is futile to judge a kind deed by its motives. Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.”

 

My response: Hoffer is usually right and is practical. He does not worry much about noble or ignoble motives, though doing good and right from a moral motive would be preferable.

 

Hoffer is a realist that knows people live on the surface. If they act kind, repeatedly, consistently over and over, then kindness becomes their primary motive and they will be kinder of a better will.