 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
Vanity is a motive of immense potency. Anyone who has much to do with children knows how they are constantly performing some antic, and saying "Look at me". "Look at me" is one of the most fundamental desires of the human heart. It can take innumerable forms, from buffoonery to the pursuit of posthumous fame.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954,pt.2,chap.2: Politically Important Desires (Nobel Prize Acceptant Speech
More info.: https://russell-j.com/cool/47T-020201.HTM
* a brief comment (Translated with DeepL.com)
In our early years we all said, "Look at this! (Look at me!)" to get the attention of parents and others, but as we grow older, this behaviour disappears.
However, a certain number of people, even as adults, continue to have strong self-expression, constantly saying "Look at this! (Look at me!)" to satisfy their need for self-expression. It is understandable if they really want to do what they want to do and have their achievements seen by many people, but people who just want to be noticed and continue to do various things that are not very praiseworthy look foolish.