“If other people do not understand our behavior—so what? Their request that we must make sense to them can be just an attempt to control us”
— Erich Fromm
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Simplified Meaning:
Sometimes people don't get why we act a certain way, but that shouldn't bother us. When others demand that we do things their way or expect us to explain ourselves, they might be trying to control us. Imagine you like to dance in public just because it makes you happy. Some might think it's strange and ask you to stop or explain yourself. But their opinion shouldn’t make you change what you love doing. It's important to stay true to yourself and not let others dictate your actions. If we always try to fit into others' expectations, we lose our freedom to be ourselves.
Related tags
Authenticity Autonomy Freedom of choice Independence Individuality Nonconformity Personal freedom Self-determination Self-expression Social expectations
