Human Grandeur /Човешкото Величие/

Human Grandeur

Human grandeur – what is it exactly and does it actually exist? I could hardly express an adequately universal opinion on the topic, as this is a notion far beyond explicitness. However, drawing on the “Man is a measure for everything” maxim, I can state my understanding that I do believe in human grandeur and I can clearly recognize it throughout the pages of history and even in my own everyday experience.

Passion is essential and inevitably everywhere in our world. It may be light and benevolent, or dark and malevolent. Quite often we give way to egotism and anger and do things hurtful to others. Nevertheless, is it not the most beautiful happening when one acknowledges their mistake and repents for it? And even more marvelous when one is requited with forgiveness and accepted back, and loved? As for me, it is. The ability to rue or pardon the harms once vigorously and mindlessly induced is a bliss, which should be most valued. It is the very thing that proves human soul superiority over low passions and differs good-hearted, capable of real relations individuals from the ones weak in true love.

Another victory over innate passions is endurance in situations of severe distress. A lot of people in world history expressed such respectable and excessive strength of will. Starting with Socrates, who stood for his adherence for truth and refused to avoid his death sentence through bribed escape and ending with the beggar from my neighbourhood, who refused to overstep his principles not to steal in order to avoid starvation, a person can easily fill their list of spiritual guides and strive for being better. I am far from the idea that everyone can achieve similar volitive results, but it is something obviously and definitely peculiar to men – to keep their virtues even in great sufferings.

Yes, human grandeur does exist. I find it every time I see an individual sustaining victory over our imperfect human nature and doing the right thing. As Alfred Lord Tennyson once remarked: “The happiness of man in this life does not consist in the absence of, but in the mastery of his passions.”

“Ambition is sometimes a false friend”

“If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,/ or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch…” These lines were written by Rudyard Kipling in his magnificent poem “If” and the conception they serve perfectly expresses my self-experienced understanding on the topic.

Ambition is one of the most valued qualities of our time. Nevertheless, the time we live in, however advanced it is said to be, is also a time of severe human disgrace. People know more, but think less; they own more, but disvalue what they have; they strive more, but remain unsatisfied. So where in this paradoxes-torn world does ambition take place and is its role so good as it is supposed to be? According to me, ambition is a graceful gift, but having its thorns in the forms of arrogance and hypocrisy.

Ambition is among the main catalysts, elevating a person in their career and every rise in social or economic status inevitably brings the most human sin – namely – haughtiness. Starting with the creation of the Babylon Tower and ending with my mist of boredom at school today, life offers us a various number of examples confirming this thesis. Can something be done to prevent the matter in question? I presume no. One who is determined to climb the ladder of success should also be prepared to meet the disappointment of both his and his audience’s behaviour.

Another trait career-hunting is stained with is hypocrisy. However socially revered candour is, when matters come to money and acquisition of any kind, egoistic people often disregard their principles and, although committing a moral crime, intentionally cheat and manipulate in order to achieve their goal. This I find inexcusable and wrong. For me sincerity in my relations is of grave importance and I do my best to preserve it this way. Alas… I strongly doubt it is the same with most people.

Concluding the above-exposed, in my opinion ambition is very similar to any remedy – overdosed its effect is quite undesirable. I believe that in order to keep the fragile balance between conscience and success, one has to stand for their principles and not violate them, except in extreme situations. A man’s happiness, after all, is not so much connected with their material winnings, as with their spiritual comfort.

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Мое есе по Английски, оценено на 6 Лично аз много му се радвам, защото поуспях да вложа стила на писане на Оскар Уайлд, който е наистина невероятен!