Persons whose trade is to secure public admiration, such as actors, preachers, speakers, and politicians, come to depend more and more upon applause. When they receive their due meed of public approbation their life is full of zest; when they do not, they become discontented and self-centred. The diffused goodwill of a multitude does for them what is done for others by the more concentrated affection of the few.
Source: Bertrand Russell: The Conquest of Happiness, 1930, Chap.11:Zest
More info.: https://russell-j.com/beginner/HA23-030.HTM
* a brief comment:
People who are accustomed to being praised by many others on a daily basis tend to take such praise for granted, and gradually come to desire even greater admiration. When they are not praised, they begin to feel dissatisfied, thinking, "Perhaps this person doesn't know me well," or "Maybe this person doesn't recognize my true value."
Such tendencies are clearly visible in the behavior of President Trump. When he is being praised, he is in good spirits and may even crack jokes to lighten the mood around him. However, when he feels he is not being given sufficient importance, or when he is even slightly criticized, he quickly becomes irritable. He distances himself from his critics and surrounds himself with those who are obedient. That said, because he cannot maintain power without winning elections, he tends to be relatively restrained toward the citizens of his own country -- especially his white supporters.
Toward other countries and foreign nationals, however, the situation is different. Demonstrating American power is something that many American citizens -- including Black Americans -- appreciate, so he often ends up acting in an arrogant and domineering manner.
Those who agree with this description will likely also agree with today's quote from Bertrand Russell:
Persons whose trade is to secure public admiration, such as actors, preachers, speakers, and politicians, come to depend more and more upon applause. When they receive their due meed of public approbation their life is full of zest; when they do not, they become discontented and self-centred. The diffused goodwill of a multitude does for them what is done for others by the more concentrated affection of the few.
