true value

'in men, not the seller, but the buyer determines the price....their true value is no more than it is esteemed by others.'

- Thomas Hobbes. "Leviathan - Chap X: Of Power, Worth, Dignity, Honour, and Worthiness"


our true value is determined by "others"? do we then live life trying to impress and create that impression we want in others? who are these "others"?

if we live life being fully concerned about what other ple think about yourself, then i believe that a tough life ensues - a life in which u can't even be urself.

if we live life not being concerned about the comments of others, then we are not better than an uncivilised person. we have to realise that we live in a polis.

can we strike a balance then? ascertain who the "others" are and impress those ple. ignore the unimportant folks whose comments and appraisal u deem impotent.

written on aug 23, 2006