Imaginary Love

I love mankind….but I find to my amazement that the more I love mankind as a whole...hmm....the less I love individual people.

In my thoughts I often visualize ecstatically the sacrifices I could make for mankind....hmmm....

Indeed I might even accept martyrdom for my fellow men if circumstances suddenly demanded it of me.

In actual fact...however....I cannot bear to spend two days in the same room with another person.

And this I know from personal experience....hmmm....

Whenever someone is too close to me....I feel my personal dignity and freedom are being infringed upon.

Within twenty four hours I can come to hate my room mate....perhaps because she eats too slowly or because she has a cold and keeps blowing her nose.

I become a man’s enemy as soon as he touches me...hmmm....

And just to make up for it....the more I hate individual people....the more ardent is my general love for mankind.

A true act of love....unlike imaginary love....is hard and forbidding.

Imaginary love yearns for an immediate heroic act that is achieved quickly and seen by everyone.

People may actually reach a point where they are willing to sacrifice their lives....as long as the ordeal doesn’t last too long....is quickly over – just like on the stage.....with the public watching and admiring.

A true act of love...hmmm....on the other hand....

Requires hard work and patience...and....for some....it is a whole way of life.