This is the second of two articles on arrogance. Link to the first article that was published on 21 May 2024 is at the end of this blog.
The first of these two blogs discussed why arrogance is such a cardinal sin in Indian society. This article will explain the causes of my being arrogant. Or rather it will comment on the philosophy that made me the way I was as a young man.
I will start by saying that judging people who are not doing anything to harm you and leading their lives the way they see fit does not in any way constitute sound ethics. It is not your job to run the Universe. Judging people should be left either to a judge in a court of law or God almighty on Judgment Day. That is not your job.
But at the same time there are one aspect of what is regarded as arrogance in India that is actually nothing of the sort. This aspect is having a healthy disregard for public opinion and not in any way fearing it.
Most of us are not politicians or celebrities or entertainers and we do not need public approbation to do our work or earn a living. We have or are supposed to have the protection of the law and the rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. So why should we fear public opinion to such a degree that it runs (or rather ruins) our lives.
I am not sure where I read this. I think it was Bertrand Russell who said that a man should respect public opinion to the extent that is required to stay out of prison and earn a living. Other than that what I choose to do with my time is my business.
Also professionals such as lawyers, accountants and doctors (and many other professions no doubt) need a sound reputation in order to practice their profession. That falls in the category of doing what is necessary to earn a living.
What I am basically advocating is described in the following passage from Emerson’s essay on Self Reliance:
The nonchalance of boys who are sure of a dinner, and would disdain as much as a lord to do or say aught to conciliate one, is the healthy attitude of human nature. A boy is in the parlour what the pit is in the playhouse; independent, irresponsible, looking out from his corner on such people and facts as pass by, he tries and sentences them on their merits, in the swift, summary way of boys, as good, bad, interesting, silly, eloquent, troublesome. He cumbers himself never about consequences, about interests: he gives an independent, genuine verdict.
https://emersoncentral.com/texts/essays-first-series/self-reliance/
If you can stand on your own feet and be independent and self reliant then you have the right to all that is necessary for you to be a cultured person. And what is required to be cultured is being independent of the crowd or the mob. Do not allow yourself to be enslaved by what people think of you.
What is common to all great thinkers, philosophers, poets, scientists and mystics is that they charted their own path. Quoting from Emerson again:
Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.
All progress of humanity in pretty much all fields of knowledge was the result of people who were self reliant. And it is also a healthy way to live. It is not arrogance and even if it is arrogance it is still worth it.
Now this is just a short blog and obviously not the last word on this subject. Please read Emerson’s essay linked to above and also Bertrand Russell’s classic The Conquest of Happiness. There is a chapter in The Conquest of Happiness on Public Opinion that presents a more balanced view than what I have stated. Link is below:
I hope you liked this article and it will be useful to you. Please share it on WhatsApp, FB and X and let me have your comments. Feedback from my readers keeps me going.
Find this handy. Buy me a coffee
My earlier blog on Arrogance: