Socrates (469-399 BC)
was a great philosopher and teacher of ancient Greece. Several young men
approached him with the request that they may be accepted as the students of
Socrates. The great teacher performed a simple test to select the suitable
students. He asked the aspirants to look into a pond and report to him what
each of them had seen in the pond. Most of them said that they had seen their
own image in the still water. Socrates sent them away as unqualified to be his
students. A few of them reported that they had seen fishes swimming around in
the still water. Socrates gladly admitted them to his school. When asked about
this test by his senior disciples, he said that those who saw their own image
in the water were in love with their own ego and so were useless as students.
An egoist or egocentric
person is preoccupied with and considers only his own interests, welfare,
pleasure, advantage and advancement. He acts with only himself and his own
interests in mind. He puts his own interests and needs first in every action
without any concern for others. He is self-centred and selfish and thinks too
much about oneself and too little about others. Egotists are boastful and think and talk too often or
too much about oneself. They have a very high sense of self-importance.
The Bible teaches, "Pride leads
to destruction, and arrogance to downfall."
There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.
............................................................................................................
© By Prof.
Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology,
Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former
Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo. S. John, St. Antony's Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally
and Neil John, Maniparambil,
Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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