Word: egoism
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...studies for his own good. If there is any thought at all of a benefit to be conferred on his school through his personal excellence in scholarship, it is an afterthought. Just because studying is purely personal--one might almost call it a development of one's egoism--it has been necessary in both schools and colleges to seek in extra-curriculum activities the means for creating an esprit de corps. As a general rule, a man is a good student because of the peculiar warp of his mind. The trophy is a group award, and will probably...
...gone up to still those who do not believe as the nation believes. If the thought of such men is ill, then let their thought be obliterated, for we have enough of sickly thought. If the thought of such men is irreconcilable from the eternal desire of egoism to be individual, then let their thought be obliterated, for we have enough of egoisms which are mad with the consciousness of themselves. But if the thought of such men is strong and clear, however strange it may seem to us, let us not dare, for the very fear of truth that...
...fine thing for a man to become oblivious to self in pursuing a higher ideal than egoism. It is a terrible thing for a man to become oblivious to self because the whole world appears as nothing stronger than a fantasy...
...stamina to carry either on parade, nor the moral stamina to carry either in battle. It is largely such men who are now whimpering that they were not chosen. It need not be said whether their first thought is for their country's strength, or for their own paltry egoism...
Clearly honor for honor's sake must bow to some more infallible test of duty. This test is, I take it, whether one's conduct is pushing forward to the goal which his philosophy accepts. I can see no logical mid-points between private egoism and devotion to the human common-wealth. Suppose the latter is chosen. Then right is action towards this goal. And retaliation is right when and when only it carries man forward. Whenever self-assertion against a molestor only makes matters worse for the community, the injured individual ought to submit and swallow his humiliation cheerfully...