There is no word more generally misinterpreted than the word egoism, in its modern sense. John Buchanan Robinson More Quotes by John Buchanan Robinson More Quotes From John Buchanan Robinson It was the king's army, the king's people, the king's taxes; and he who questioned the propriety of the royal prerogative of taking from his people without return or accounting, was reckoned, and felt himself to be, a criminal, guilty of the highest crime of disloyalty. John Buchanan Robinson army kings people Modern money is almost altogether credit money. John Buchanan Robinson modern credit Large sums were paid for the use of money, because the available amount of gold and silver was far less than was needed to carry on the commercial transactions of the times. John Buchanan Robinson silver gold use Accordingly, when the supply of gold runs short, the security behind the notes is diminished, the loaning of notes is restricted or suspended, and the panic follows. John Buchanan Robinson panic gold running At present, financial crises occur, chiefly because the paper currency is redeemable in gold only. John Buchanan Robinson financial paper gold But egoism is more than this. It is the realization by the individual that he is above all institutions and all formulas; that they exist only so far as he chooses to make them his own by accepting them. John Buchanan Robinson individual accepting realization Paper currency has hitherto been regarded with suspicion, as insecure. John Buchanan Robinson currency insecure paper Not an old woman that buys a paper of pins, without yielding a part of the price to the banks as interest! John Buchanan Robinson pins interest paper There is never enough gold to redeem all the currency in circulation. John Buchanan Robinson currency gold enough The egoist is fooled by no ideals: he discards them or uses them, as may suit his own interest. John Buchanan Robinson suits use may But the egoist has no ideals, for the knowledge that his ideals are only his ideals, frees him from their domination. He acts for his own interest, not for the interest of ideals. John Buchanan Robinson domination ideals interest In brief, egoism in its modern interpretation, is the antithesis, not of altruism, but of idealism. John Buchanan Robinson idealism-and-realism interpretation modern In precisely the same way money is often hired, and the hire paid for the use of it is called Interest. John Buchanan Robinson interest use way The Massachusetts Land Bank, during Colonial times, prospered, and brought prosperity to the community, until it was forcibly suppressed by special act of Parliament. John Buchanan Robinson community land special According to your sympathy, you will take pleasure in your own happiness or in the happiness of other people; but it is always your own happiness you seek. John Buchanan Robinson happiness sympathy people However near and dear to you may be your wife, children, friends, they are not you; they are outside of you. John Buchanan Robinson wife may children For each one of us stands alone in the midst of a universe. John Buchanan Robinson stand-alone midst universe You are forever alone. John Buchanan Robinson forever Your thoughts and emotions are yours alone. John Buchanan Robinson thoughts-and-emotions emotion There is no other who experiences your thoughts or your feelings. John Buchanan Robinson feelings
