My primary goal is to lead a happy life and I know what ‘happy life’ means for me. It logically follows that I evaluate my choices, actions, options in reference to that primary goal. Is this… enhancing it (knowing more about myself) or is it taking away from it?
My life is my reference. If your life is not your reference then what other standard are you using or proposing in its place?
Pride is the clay you mold victories out of. Pride is gasoline in the engine of life. Pride is a celebration of self. Pride is a small child standing before the world and shouting, I am!
And for every child who stands up and shouts “I am!” there is a room full of adults shouting, “No you’re not! Sit down and shut up!”
It takes a strong man to stand up and say, “I don’t believe in your lies, your bribes, or your God. I AM.”
Let this passage from “The Conquest Of Paradise” speak for itself:
INT. ALHAMBRA PALACE – CORRIDOR – DAY
SANCHEZ, in another direction, along a corridor, towards
his office. As he reaches a corner with a wide window, a
hand seizes him. COLUMBUS.
SANCHEZ
All I have to do is call the guards.
COLUMBUS
Call them.
SANCHEZ looks at him — and doesn’t call. COLUMBUS lets
go of him.
SANCHEZ
I am not afraid of you. You are
nothing but a dreamer.
COLUMBUS
Look out of that window.
Surprised, SANCHEZ nevertheless turns, looks out.
COLUMBUS
What do you see?
SANCHEZ
Roofs… towers, palaces…
spires…
COLUMBUS
All of them created by people like
me.
SANCHEZ turns round again to face him.
COLUMBUS
No matter how long you live,
Sanchez, there’s something that will
never change between us.
[b]I did it!
You didn’t![/b]
COLUMBUS turns abruptly and walks away, vanishing down the
echoing corridor.
—–from “The Conquest Of Paradise” Script by Roselyne Bosch; Directed by Ridley Scott
