The Passionate State of Mind and Other Aphorisms

by Eric Hoffer

THERE is in most passions a shrinking away from ourselves. The passionate pursuer has all the earmarks of a fugitive. Passions usually have their roots in that which is blemished, crippled, incomplete and insecure within us. The passionate attitude is less a response to stimuli from without than an emanation of an inner dissatisfaction.

When we throw ourselves into something claiming it to be our passion, what are we neglecting? What are we turning our backs on, what is it that we are in denial about?

SOMETIMES when we accuse others we are actually excusing ourselves. The more we need to justify ourselves, the greater will be our self-righteousness.