The simpler life...

For all they may claim, most people go through life essentially just stroking their ego. And it's nothing to be ashamed about in a sense; after all, we're human all too human and there's no denying the impact and motivation provided by our big, fat egos. It's certainly not something new: Dale Carnegie essentially spawned the whole self-help industry in the 1930s by identifying the simple fact that the human conscious and subconscious is essentially centered around one's self. (And while I may not agree with some of his approaches I thought that was such a simple but profound realization he came about and I greatly respect him for that. Even today this still rings true and I don't doubt it will continue to be this way for a long, long time.)

Sadly, knowing a train is steaming ahead towards you isn't too much help if you can't get out of the way. Socrates may think it is not a life worth living, but maybe an unexamined life was the way it was meant to be.

We try, in hope of someone breaking free of these chains eventually...