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THE TRUE BELIEVER

Book by Eric Hoffer · 17 quotes · Self, True Believer, Individual

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THE TRUE BELIEVER Quotes

“The chief burden of the frustrated is the consciousness of a blemished, ineffectual self, and their chief desire is to slough off the unwanted self and begin a new life. They try to realize this desire either by finding a new identity or by blurring and camouflaging their individual distinctness; and both these ends are reached by imitation.”

TryingEndsSelfDesireIndividualRealizingConsciousnessIdentityFindingsBurdenChiefsFrustratedImitationNew LifeUnwantedSlough
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“The vigor of a mass movement stems from the propensity of its followers for united action and self-sacrifice. When we ascribe the success of a movement to its faith, doctrine, propaganda, leadership, ruthlessness and so on, we are but referring to instruments of unification and to means used to inculcate a readiness for self-sacrifice. It is perhaps impossible to understand the nature of a mass movement unless it is recognized that their chief preoccupation is to foster, perfect and perpetuate a facility for united action and self-sacrifice.”

MeanSelfActionUsedPerfectUnitedImpossibleSacrificeSocietyMovementMassInstrumentsDoctrineChiefsPropagandaFollowersStemFacilityReadinessSelf SacrificeVigorReferringPreoccupationPropensityUnificationRuthlessness
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“Poverty when coupled with creativeness is usually free of frustration. This is true of the poor artisan skilled in his trade and of the poor writer, artist, and scientist in the full possession of creative powers. Nothing so bolsters our self-confidence and reconciles us with ourselves as the continuous ability to create; to see things grow and develop under our hand, day in, day out. The decline of handicrafts in modern times is perhaps one of the causes for the rise of frustration and the increased susceptibility of the individual to mass movements.”

SelfHandsArtistIndividualGrowsCausesAbilityPoorPovertyCreativeModernMovementMassScientistTradePossessionSelf ConfidenceFrustrationDeclineReconcileModern TimesCreative PowerCreativenessArtisansSusceptibilityHandicrafts
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“The frustrated follow a leader less because of their faith that he is leading them to a promised land than because of their immediate feeling that he is leading them away from their unwanted selves. Surrender to a leader is not a means to an end but a fulfillment. Whither they are led is of secondary importance.”

MeanEndsSelfFeelingsLeaderLandImportanceSurrenderFulfillmentFrustratedUnwantedPromised LandMeans To An End
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“The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the true believer, particularly the religious individual, is a humble person. The truth is that the surrendering and humbling of the self breed pride and arrogance. The true believer is apt to see himself as one of the chosen, the salt of the earth, a prince disguised in meekness, who is destined to inherit this earth and the kingdom of heaven, too. He who is not of his faith is evil; he who will not listen shall perish.”

PersonsSelfSeemsEarthEvilIndividualHeavenReligiousHumilityPrideTruth IsHumbleBelieverImpressionKingdomsChosenDenialArroganceSaltHarshDestinedHumblingKingdom Of HeavenMeeknessTrue BelieverSelf-denialSalt Of The EarthHumble PersonPride And Arrogance
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“Glory is largely a theatrical concept. There is no striving for glory without a vivid awareness of an audience... The desire to escape or camouflage their unsatisfactory selves develops in the frustrated a facility for pretending -- for making a show -- and also a readiness to identify themselves wholly with an imposing spectacle.”

SelfShowsDesireAudienceAwarenessGloryConceptsStrivePretendingFrustratedVividFacilityTheatricalReadinessImposingCamouflage
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