Slow Havamal: 8

In the eighth verse, we learn that a man finds the most happiness within himself, his own praise, and friendship. Wondering what others think is full of uncertainty.

The question of who directs our actions is a complex one. Most people tend to act at least part of the time in service of others—at least those who don’t suffer from psychosis or some condition in which they can’t, or won’t, imagine what others may think. We want to please, because we’re social mammals, and it’s literally tied to our survival. None but the most capable hermit can truly live alone. That means some regard has to be given for how others see our actions.
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011: A Tale of Three Musics

I recently read an article quoting Dutch politician Thierry Baudet, founder of the Forum for Democracy party. His positions are quite controversial to most Europeans, and they include an Australian-style immigration policy, opposition to the EU, to climate change rhetoric, and generally being in favor of what people are calling “populism”. Those aren’t the bones I care to pick. The most interesting thing about him is that he is a tremendous fan of the classical arts, and prefers them strongly to anything the present era has to offer, whether that’s music, art, architecture, what-have-you. In terms of music, the only exception he’s willing to grant is The Beatles, which he calls satisfying in the way that fast food can occasionally be satisfying, but no substitute for a real meal.
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