By John Hancock
“Happiness is the free play of the instincts,” Will Durant, in his final essays “Fallen Leaves,” at age 95.
In my mind, civilizing conformity, whether political, cultural, or religious, has as its goal the packaging of individuals into neat, predictable, dutiful drones. But the deeper individualism we’re all born with is the real secret to progress, inspiration, and discovery. When the defined society danger of all sorts are suppressed, all feelings are submerged in the soup.
We humans deserve the respect needed to encourage our own choices among the good, bad, and ugly. Take your leap, and take your medicine. Both extremes are required to be fully alive.