“The less justified a man is in claiming excellence for his own self, the more ready is he to claim all excellence for his nation, his religion, his race or his holy cause.”
- Eric Hoffer, American moral and social philosopher
🧠 Who was Eric Hoffer?
- Lived: 1902-1983
- Known as: A self-taught philosopher and writer on social and political movements
- Famous for:
- Authoring The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
- Exploring the psychology behind fanaticism and group identity
- Writing essays on work, morality, and society
- Contributions:
- Analyzed why individuals seek meaning in mass movements
- Highlighted the dangers of projecting personal inadequacies onto collective causes
- Influenced thinking on social psychology, extremism, and human behavior
Hoffer’s quote warns against misdirected pride.
He emphasizes that people who lack confidence in themselves often overcompensate by exalting their nation, religion, or ideology, using it to mask their personal shortcomings.
In other words:
True self-worth cannot be borrowed from external affiliations;
relying on collective glory to justify oneself is a sign of inner insecurity.
The challenge is to cultivate excellence within, rather than demanding it from the world around you.