Adam Smith’s is most known for the Invisible Hand - how self-interest in a free-market leads to economic well-being.
However, many don't know his 1st major work actually was on ethics, charity, and being virtuous.
1/ In 1759, he wrote the Theory of Moral Sentiments 👇
However, many don't know his 1st major work actually was on ethics, charity, and being virtuous.
1/ In 1759, he wrote the Theory of Moral Sentiments 👇
2/ Within it, Smith argues a simple yet subtle tenant:
Being loved and being lovely are two completely separate concepts.
Being loved and being lovely are two completely separate concepts.
3/ Anyone can be loved. It is bestowed upon us by the identities, possessions, and deeds we take on in order to win the affection of others.
The pursuits of money, fame, or power are all part of the same temptation—various paths to being loved, paths to being noticed by others.
The pursuits of money, fame, or power are all part of the same temptation—various paths to being loved, paths to being noticed by others.
4/ Being lovely, however, is something quite different. We, ourselves, are the barometer by which we bestow loveliness.
It is the moral code behind our intentions. What we do when no one is looking.
It’s what leads to the truest form of admiration from ourselves and others
It is the moral code behind our intentions. What we do when no one is looking.
It’s what leads to the truest form of admiration from ourselves and others
5/ Madoff was loved for his wizardry as an investor. But he knew that he was a fraud.
He knew he wasn’t lovely because his returns came not from his skills as an investor but from his ability to deceive.
He knew he wasn’t lovely because his returns came not from his skills as an investor but from his ability to deceive.
6/ Trump may be loved (by some) for his powerful position in politics, sprawling estates, and copious media empires.
However, the way in which he secured these emblems - through bullying others, cutting legal corners, etc. - fails to make him a lovely person.
However, the way in which he secured these emblems - through bullying others, cutting legal corners, etc. - fails to make him a lovely person.
7/ We may be tempted to be loved without actually being lovely in the quest to secure attention from others.
The wise person opts to secure self-respect instead.
To ignore this small voice and shun your morals in the pursuit of attention, is to be loved, but not lovely.
The wise person opts to secure self-respect instead.
To ignore this small voice and shun your morals in the pursuit of attention, is to be loved, but not lovely.
8/ To satisfy the desire we all have in us to be noticed, there are two ways to be loved:
The 1st path is to be rich, famous, powerful.
The 2nd path is to be wise and virtuous. To earn the admiration of others honestly by being respectable, blameless, generous, and kind.
The 1st path is to be rich, famous, powerful.
The 2nd path is to be wise and virtuous. To earn the admiration of others honestly by being respectable, blameless, generous, and kind.
9/ And this, I believe, is the great equalizing denominator among all humans.
Bc no matter if you were born into a life of riches or poverty, we all start at the same baseline of self-respect - every step down either path teeters us across the spectrum of love and loveliness.
Bc no matter if you were born into a life of riches or poverty, we all start at the same baseline of self-respect - every step down either path teeters us across the spectrum of love and loveliness.
10/ And so, like Smith, we ask this timeless question to ourselves at the crossroads of life’s kaleidoscope of decisions:
What can be added to the happiness of one who is in health, who is out of debt, and has a clear conscience?
Does one choose to be loved or to be lovely?
What can be added to the happiness of one who is in health, who is out of debt, and has a clear conscience?
Does one choose to be loved or to be lovely?
full post here: wellnesswisdom.substack.com/p/-wellness-wi…
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