On the Importance of a Trifle (Great Wisdom From Andrew Carnegie)

Here is excellent excerpt from The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie. He mentions the moment when he was given an opportunity to work for the railroad company; he would later, of course, become the one of the richest men in history:

Upon such trifles do the most momentous consequences hang. A word, a look, an accent, may affect the destiny not only of individuals, but of nations. He is a bold man who calls anything a trifle…The young should remember that upon trifles the best gifts of the gods often hang.

Touche.

There are no ordinary moments. Every minute is a chance for you to smash the life game to pieces. Every second is a chance for you to ascend the mountain of greatness, taking your rightful place among the GREAT MEN OF HISTORY.

As an aside…we should be reading the biographies of GREAT MEN. Enough with Kafka turning into an insect, or other such rubbish. You have a soul that needs filling and it cannot be wasted on the half-men of history.

There are no trifles…every moment is magic and is an opportunity for you to explode with passionate fury.

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A Gullible Generation Can Destroy a Nation

A gullible generation can destroy a nation. The people follow a dubious Weltanschauung, losing the virtues of HONOR and COURAGE. Lofty aspirations are washed away in a flood of degeneracy.

A “new way” is promoted. Children are encouraged to usurp their parents. Men are encouraged to become women and women to become men. The hunchback is applauded, while the UberMan is ridiculed.

And when the nefarious change happens, it will take years to come to fruition. The tree will grew askew, but few will be concerned. They’ll comment on how a tree can grow lopsided at times…these things happen! Carry on as you were. The plebeians will remain focused on bread and circus.

But eventually, the rotten fruit will become known. And when it hits the ground, everybody will take notice. The destruction will be obvious…for bloodshed will reign supreme. The nation will lament the deforestation of their lands…the eradication of their soil. The destruction of a people.

Therefore, no idea can be given a free pass. Every philosophy must be held to the standards of a lofty empire – a home that loves God, promotes a happy marriage, and supports the concept of children with honor.

See Related Article: On the Dangers of Sophistry

The Artistic Destiny of Mankind is of Utmost Importance

This idea was furthered by Richard Wagner is his wonderful autobiography, My Life:

I insisted upon attaching an importance to the artistic destiny of mankind which far transcended the mere aims of citizenship.

We need this perspective. For a nation to be great, it needs more than economic success. It needs more than technological advancement. And it needs more than sensual passion.

It needs an art form that elevates humanity – one that expresses a universal life essence. It could be a three-act play that brings a grown man to tears. It could be an overture that inspires a young man to rise up and chase his dream with relentless fervor. Or it could be an epic poem, filling the classrooms of a nation with ethereal bliss.

Art is culture. And without a wonderful display of human expression, no nation can every call itself an EMPIRE.

See Related Article: The Difference Between a Great Work of Art and a Bad One

Album Recommendation: “Man Child” by Herbie Hancock

What makes Herbie Hancock a GREAT MAN? Simply put, his music is capturing a universal life essence. We hear the “IT” factor – a musician that’s working in the sticky resin of humanity. Some people call it “funk,” because everything needs a category. But it’s deeper that that. His music is emanating from the epicenter of a great soul.

We’ll need more of this music in the future. Great civilizations are noted for their culture: art, music, architecture, etc. Money is not enough. The nation needs a noble art form…a spiritual force that ripples throughout the country.

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Artwork of the Day: “The Anchorage” by Brian Larsen

Behold “The Anchorage”. It’s a wonderful painting by Bryan Larsen, made in 2003:

Mr. Larsen is focusing on the Uberman. We see the becoming of greatness – of a soul that creates tomorrow, We see a dreamer – daring and defiant. He burns with desire. He must – by all means necessary – cement his name into the annals of history. Anything less is unacceptable.

When the common man sees a bridge, he observes an outline: a name, a toll fee, etc. His brain spins on the surface level. But the GREAT MAN feels a bridge in his soul. He realizes that it was created by a restless WILL…by an immortal soul.

Thomas Carlyle said, “History is the biography of great men.” Giant bridges are a testament to this. Some people think they were created to get people from point A to point B. In reality, giant bridges were created so that the Uberman can express the potential of a dynamic spirit.

You can learn more about Mr. Larsen’s work at the following website: Brian Larsen

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On the Value of Arete

Arete is a concept that arose in Classical Greece. Basically, it refers to the attributes of a GREAT MAN. According to James Herrick in his book The History and Theory of Rhetoric (2013), it can be defined as the following:

Arete = Virtue, Excellence and Leadership Ability

I support this concept.

It’s important that we have a clear understanding of greatness. What are its components? What does it looks like? What people are good examples of Arete? By doing so, we establish a clear path. The young man is given a distinctive goal and a solid philosophy.

If we don’t provide our children with an Arete, then a more dubious philosophy will supplant it. The philosophy will, most likely, come from media charlatans and seditious academics. These denigrating philosophies will undermine the potential of our children.

The Major will print a copy of this word, along with its definition. Then I will frame it, post it to my wall, and make sure that my son reads it. He needs to understand that there is a clear road that’s leading to excellence. There is a path that the GREAT MAN can follow.

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On the Greatness of Arnold Bocklin’s “Self Portrait With Death”

Art should raise the human spirit. It should elevate us into an ethereal plane…expanding our consciousness. It should give us the courage to fight! To never back down or regress into a stilted form. Art should make us feel like Roman soldiers. It should affirm the universal life essence of BEAUTY.

One painting that illustrates these ideas is Self Portrait with Death. It was created by the Swiss painter, Arnold Bocklin, in 1872.

The message is simple. The artist is proud and confident; and yet Death follows him everywhere. However, the great artist is not overcome with fear. Instead, he continues to pursue his lofty goal – the elevation of human beauty in the face of danger. By doing so, he becomes a GREAT MAN.

Let’s reaffirm the beauty of life! Let’s gather the rosebuds of exquisite passion…the blessings of passionate love. Let’s look into the mirror and see the becoming man, shedding his coat of insecurity.

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You Should Preference the Man That Retains a Vital Force

In life, we see all types of men: young men of ability, middle-aged men with families, older men in contemplation. They all seem relatively equal. What is to distinguish one from the other? How do we know which one is superior?

I say that you preference men with a vital force. A man whose blood is still coursing through his veins. A man that exudes passion and has expelled the parasitic forces of complacency. In short, a GREAT MAN with an active spirit.

It’s too easy to reflect back…to ponder the deeds of our youth. “Remember when I was a somebody!” mutters the nobody. This type of nostalgia is to be frowned upon. The urgency of now is real, and only the brave will rise to meet the challenges of humanity.

Your inner circle should be filled with GREAT MEN. And more specifically, men with an active vital force. Ones that have an appreciation for natural beauty and artistic merit. Ones that respect the divine force of empiricism. Ones that believe the becoming man is worth more than a jealous pettifogger.

You should preference the man that retains a vital force.

See Related Article: The Nice Man is Not a Great Man

Can You Still Capture the Heroic Glory of Life?

Can you still capture the heroic glory of life of life? For one moment, can you sing the song of ascension? Can you still be a lofty soul, playing a guitar solo on the mountain peaks of victory? Can you carry another on the waves of an exquisite passion?

I affirm as much for myself. I stand on the coastline of despair, still willing to fight. I raise my voice on the battlefield of defeat, still affirming the universal life essence. I challenge the force of spiritless materialism, of human cruelty, and of dark and hopeless corners.

For what is a man if he cannot dream? What is a man is he cannot still fight?

The GREAT MAN can never give up. He refuses to drown in the sea a despair…he battles to protect a noble tome.

See Related Article: The Nice Man is Not a Great Man

The Greatness of Henry Ford Was in His DNA

I’m reading My Life and Work by Henry Ford. It’s important to read the autobiographies of GREAT MEN: primary sources being superior to secondary ones, generally speaking.

In a revealing part of the story, he discusses the first time he ever witnessed a machine other than a horse-drawn carriage. He was sitting on a wagon with his father when he saw a primitive road engine passing by. Ford—only 12 at the time—was mesmorized. Without any coaxing, he approached the engineer and began asking questions in order to learn more:

The engine had stopped to let us pass with our horses and I was off the wagon and talking to the engineer before my father, who was driving, knew what I was up to.

Nobody pushed him to learn more…he did it himself. No social programs were created to help him “find his passion”: the passion was already inside of him. In short, nature is stronger than nurture. You have a destiny with greatness or you don’t.

Note that many children would be apathetic in the same scenario. They’d be dreaming of a toy, staring at a cloud, or thinking of a fantasy. Others would be interested, but would remain seated. But not Henry Ford. He was pro-active, jumping at the opportunity to challenge his intellect.

The greatness of Henry Ford was written in his DNA.

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