People embarrass humanity. At least the simple have the virtue of knowing that they are simple. They do not read books, they do not like to think, and they throw themselves into labor and passive consumption. It is not a life I would choose, but there is an honesty about it.

I am sickened by the pretentious and ill-informed, incorrectly confident and utterly disconnected from reality. I do say I am better than them, not because I know more or have learned to mask my ego better. I say I am better because I am still curious and open, investigating all sides, taking ideas and lessons from all sources, learning even from those who have nothing to teach.

Next to curiosity, a lack of confidence and a lack of fear are the most important. To admit failure, to admit death and to still be unafraid is a kind of bravery.

We all die. Most people deal with this by removing this information from thier minds, living each day as if they are immortal. When time catches up with them, they are bewildered and undignified. Some cobble together a rushed acceptence of death, while others are terrified and angry until the end.

By far the most popular method of nullifying death is religion. Religion in this case being used to describe anything that suggests a post body-death existence. This allows one to reject death as a real event. Rather, they pretend they are moving on to somewhere else, through some personal or institutional virtue. Evidence for these theories being true is spotty, at best.

People have a blanket of comfortable illusions that they are loathe to remove.

The more ignoble the birth, the more glorious the accomplishments.

Adapt or Die. Both are reasonable choices.