Ego

2024-11-28
tags: none

Words: 251 (1 minutes to read)

(This is entry 48 of #100DaysToOffload)

Is it bad to have an ego?

Perhaps. I think that the problem is having an ego without having anything to deserve it by. But also, I dislike precocious people with talent as much as the next man. Humility is good in talent also.

It's worth distinguishing clearly self-confidence from ego, I suppose. A clear conception of self is helpful in having self-confidence, and knowing what one's skills are, and the limits of them, but also helpful is to know not to go on about it.

The latter point feels superficial. It is a matter of presentation, not of character, it feels like. A not-insignificant (but also not significant, Orwell!) portion of virtue seems to be aesthetic. It seems as if it's always been too easy to lie about the virtue of one's character. Likewise, faults that are evident disproportionately affect one's perceived character. I suppose, if virtue is the pursuit, then ignoring outside perception altogether is important. For instance, the great sceptic once reportedly told the king to shift left and stop blocking the sun. Is that true virtue? Would he have done the same to a pauper? Or was it for show only? Regardless, if I can know my internal character, I have some clue.

(I don't know my internal character, though. Hopefully I can come to know it.)

I don't really have a point writing this, and I'm sort of tired and out of inspiration. I'm not at the point where I deserve to have an ego yet, anyways.