Imitation

 

On Page 139 of his book, The Passionate State of Mind, Eric Hoffer has three entries which I quote and then comment on.

 

 

 

Hoffer: “          272

 

Imitation is often an act of separation from our insecure, hesitant self. There can be no religiosity, no enthusiasm and no heroism without imitation.”

 

My response: Imitation is acceptable when it is the secure and hesitant nonindividuators fleeing themselves  while serving a noble faith, a human cause, or mimicking a hero helping rescue people.

 

I would rather that everyone maverize, being confident enough to believe in their personal future where they are rather secure in their self-regard, and unwaveringly optimistic about their future prospects.

 

Then, competent and thus engaged, the maverizing individual can learn from others, not in the negative mode of imitation, but by openly emulating another with a better idea, or superior way of doing things, acknowledging openly and with gratitude owed the one with the better idea or way of doing things.

 

 

 

Hoffer: “          273

 

Faith in ourselves, like every other faith, needs a chorus of consent.”

 

My response: It is the aim of the individuator learn to love the self until one becomes confident enough to have faith in oneself, and then one can move forward in maverizing. Communal consent is enjoyable, at that point as before, but it no longer much matters if others approve of one’s journey to individuate or not.

 

Hoffer: “          274

 

No ending is so final as a happy ending.”

 

My response: It could be that, if our life plan is working well for us, and we are loved by our soul mate, that is a happy ending of sorts, so there is no need to overthrow it, having found a substitute plan to enact. If it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.