A wonderful piece, Jerry. Thanks. It brought to mind a favorite quotation:
The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated. William James, in letter to his Philosophy 2A class at Radcliffe College (April 6, 1896)
QUOTE NOTE: James wrote the letter six years after he had come out with Psychology, the first textbook of psychology published in America. After receiving the gift of an azalea plant from the young women in his Philosophy 2A class, James was so moved by the gift and accompanying note of appreciation that he penned a letter to the class. The letter is so intriguing, I’m reproducing it in its entirety below:
“Dear Young Ladies, I am deeply touched by your remembrance. It is the first time anyone ever treated me so kindly, so you may well believe that the impression on the heart of the lonely sufferer will be even more durable than the impression on your minds of all the teachings of Philosophy 2A. I now perceive one immense omission in my Psychology—the deepest principle of Human Nature is the craving to be appreciated, and I left it out altogether from the book, because I had never had it gratified until now. I fear that you have let loose a demon in me, and that all my actions will now be for the sake of such rewards.”
A wonderful piece, Jerry. Thanks. It brought to mind a favorite quotation:
The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated. William James, in letter to his Philosophy 2A class at Radcliffe College (April 6, 1896)
QUOTE NOTE: James wrote the letter six years after he had come out with Psychology, the first textbook of psychology published in America. After receiving the gift of an azalea plant from the young women in his Philosophy 2A class, James was so moved by the gift and accompanying note of appreciation that he penned a letter to the class. The letter is so intriguing, I’m reproducing it in its entirety below:
“Dear Young Ladies, I am deeply touched by your remembrance. It is the first time anyone ever treated me so kindly, so you may well believe that the impression on the heart of the lonely sufferer will be even more durable than the impression on your minds of all the teachings of Philosophy 2A. I now perceive one immense omission in my Psychology—the deepest principle of Human Nature is the craving to be appreciated, and I left it out altogether from the book, because I had never had it gratified until now. I fear that you have let loose a demon in me, and that all my actions will now be for the sake of such rewards.”
Keep 'em coming!
Mardy
Great story Jerry. A nice way to start my day compared to the typical bad news.