Quote of the day

" 'Activity', in the modern usage of the word, is usually meant an action which brings about a change in an existing situation by means of an expenditure of energy. Thus a man is considered active if he does business, studies medicine, works on an endless belt, builds a table, or is engaged in sports. Common to all these activities is that they are directed towards an outside goal to be achieved. What is not taken into account is the motivation of the activity. Take for instance a man driven to incessant work by a sense of deep insecurity and loneliness, or another one driven by ambition, or greed for money. In all these cases the person is the slave of a passion, and his activity is in reality a 'passivity' because he is driven; he is the sufferer, not the 'actor'. On the other hand, a man sitting quiet and contemplating, with no purpose or aim except that of experiencing himself and his oneness with the world, is considered to be 'passive', because he is not 'doing' anything. In reality, this attitude of concentrated meditation is the highest activity there is, an activity of the soul, which is possible only under the condition of inner freedom and independence."
Erich Fromm