By far my favorite
philosopher was the humanist and social psychologist Erich Fromm. Born in
Germany, he fled once the Nazis took over, and traveled around the world
throughout his life. Fromm emphasized that human beings were unique in that
they were the only species that could interfere with their own growth.
Therefore, they must always ensure that they change for the better.
He once stated: “I
believe that none can ‘save’ his fellow man by making a choice for him. To help
him, he can indicate the possible alternatives, with sincerity and love,
without being sentimental and without illusion.”
Fromm’s quote, and the man himself, represents
where I want to go with my life. I understand today that humanity has the
potential for so much better; we must evolve to use that potential if we want
to survive and overcome our current problems.
I know, however, that I can’t change people. I
can only change myself and provide some amount of guidance to others by showing
them the way. It can be very difficult for me to remember this lesson, but I
guess life is all about learning, isn’t it? In any case, I know I’m making
progress, and I feel more at peace knowing that I have incredible men like
Fromm, in their own ways, guiding me.
http://www.theglaringfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/erich-fromm.jpg
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