“Self-respect should dominate every expression of the individual, from the mere matter of personal appearance and dress to the most supreme manifestation of his real self in all the relations of life. It has greater reverence for its individuality, rightly directed, than for all its rights, powers, influence, or possessions. Self-respect, in the highest sense, is the honest pride of trusteeship over self, not the petty vanity of proprietorship.” ~ William George Jordan
The core of your individuality is not something you manufacture, it is something that you are. No matter what you do to to carve out a life for yourself, to create an identity, to be something in the world, you will always be courted by your inner self, the true you.
You do not own life, neither can you lose it. Life is eternal, though the forms it animates come and go like the leaves on a mighty oak tree. Or like the tree itself. Thinking you own life, whether it be yours or that of another, is evidence of small-mindedness, short-sightedness and blasphemy.
You are never larger than life, but you can be large in your living.
Gregory Hake 
I appreciate how you really explain the difference between Jordan’s examples of trusteeship vs proprietorship. His point is the same as yours: we do not own life, but we have a pointed responsibility to steward the life we have been given and to make our true inner self be seen. You can’t really have self-respect if your whole life is a persona, you have to take off the mask first.
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Wonderful point that blasts away the importance put on judging by the appearance of things. As they say, no matter where you go, you’ll be there, so you can’t hide from your true self. You can try to cover it up, but it always comes out in your expression. Why not keep life simple and sweet by putting our faith in the things that really matter.
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Words to live by! Thank you! 🙂
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To give life the respect it deserves demands an identity of self that is not in what we do primarily, but something far greater. In thinking of what you’ve written, this greater identity is far more elusive because you can’t really think your way there or just accept in yourself some vague idea about a greater self. Could it be that a necessary step towards its realization is loosening what prevents it from appearing, namely the sense of ownership we tend to have of the world? Trusteeship implies a whole different attitude towards life, one that I am most willing to explore!
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An uplifting reminder, thank you!!
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Beautiful description of our responsibility in the design of things. I am really enjoying this series on self-respect!
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I love the distinction of “the honest pride of trusteeship over self, not the petty vanity of proprietorship.” it is clear one has dominion while the other struggles with domination. Neither ore owners but receivers of the precious gift of life. Love the Wiliam Jordan quotes, what a legacy!
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