Young Contrarian
July 7, 2009Per suggestion of one B.Pyle, last weekend I read Christopher Hitchen’s book “Letters to a Young Contrarian.” There is much to discuss in the fantastic text, but his concluding summarized advice strikes me as fantastic:
Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the “transcendent” and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself and others. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.
I watched the “Four Horsemen” video you mentioned last week, too. Great stuff! It’s funny that at the heart of a very complicated ongoing debate is a very simple philosophy, one that this quote describes pretty well.