Humility seems so hard. Yet look at the absurdities we humble ourselves before.
Modern societies have developed welfare systems. Their purpose is to create systems of mutual assistance that enable people to avoid toxic dependency on others and to replace it with a healthy welfare dependency.
If I accept that what I might take to me mine was in fact given to me, then I realise I can only use it by also giving it away. I cannot hold on to anything and I cannot look within me to find more.
When do we tell the truth? How do we fight slander? How do we speak truth to power?
A Christmas poem by Joseph Brodsky
What are the institutional patterns of thought which dominate our minds from within?
Institutions are far worse than prisons and yet we have not weaned ourselves from using them to exclude and abuse people. We've not made people aware of how unnecessary this all is.
We must be careful how we try to change and influence each other. Superficial changes in language can create cynicism and undo the possibility of genuine change.
"the optimist sees injustice as something discordant and unexpected, and it stings him into action. The pessimist can be enraged at wrong; but only the optimist can be surprised at it"