Skilled

 

On Page 12 of his book, The Passionate State of Mind, Eric Hoffer has two entries which I copy and then respond to.

 

Hoffer (H after this): “             11

 

The passionate state of mind is often indicative of a lack of skill, talent or power. Moreover, passionate intensity can serve as a substitute for confidence born of proficiency and the possession of power. A workingman sure of his skill goes leisurely about his job, and accomplishes much though he works as if at play. On the other hand, the workingman who is without confidence attacks his work as if he were saving the world, and he must do so if he is to get anything done. The same is true of the soldier. A well-trained and well-equipped soldier will fight well even when not stirred by strong feeling. But the untrained soldier will give a good account of himself only when animated by enthusiasm and fervor.”

 

My response: True believers are passionate because they are misfit, without skill, talent, and power to adapt and conquer the chaotic world in which they now live. The competent and confident are more moderate, more rational, more skilled, and more individual, but the one lacking competence and self-belief, is much more likely to be passionate and self-sacrificing at work and in war to compensate.

 

H: “                  12

 

Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains.”

 

My response: It may seem that Hoffer the atheist is dismissing faith in good deities to help one accomplish near miraculous feats in the natural world, rather siding with secular humanists and Westerners, boasting that their science, technology, and know-how mastery gives them the means to move mountains without faith in help from the gods and goddesses.

 

That may be in part what Hoffer means, but rather I think he favors and is sharing that the skilled individual and individuator—feeling self-esteem increase based on merit and fitness-that he is able to accomplish great things without fanfare, fuss, or excessive exertion, because he has the tools and technique to accomplish great natural feats. Such a skilled engineer, trades worker or technician would have high self-esteem, justly earned and self-awarded.

 

The true believer lacks the potent personal talents and aptitudes which would reward his post-performance self-review with enough of an increase in merited self-esteem, that he could become dispassionate, moving back and away from fielding a passionate state of mind. Without the skills, tools and know-how to live and flourish in the world of technology, science and commerce, the true believer must use passion and faith to move mountains.

 

This is a bit anti-religion for Hoffer seems to equate faith in God with the undesirable passionate state of mind, and that may be his view, but he also sees emotionalism, passionate dedication, and the frenzied attacking of a problem as signifying that the worker is an unskilled but tireless true believer.