The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them.
At first blush, given that this comes from one of the most famous monarchs in history, this quotation would appear brusque and arrogant.
But if you strip the ego out of the statement and instead look at it at face value, I think the statement has tremendous strength.
Does it really matter what somebody else thinks of you? The truth is, yes of course it does. There are countless instances in which it significantly matters.
But, turning the statement 180°, you are left with the realization that perhaps it is much more important what you think of others than what they think of you.
Someone who has their ego in a healthy stasis is able to view circumstances through a relatively neutral perspective. Some people are incredibly worthy of your esteem, others not so much. Working your way through life trying to sort people through these filters is a cultured skill.
In my lifetime, I have met several very talented sociopaths whose representations and warranties proved to be false and ultimately left people around me in trouble.
Perhaps the secret is to continually work on oneself so that in any circumstance in which you meet others, you are always able to hold your own head high and internally reserve the right to determine whether the other party deserves your respect.
Being a person of character is the high ground in this particular life lesson. As long as you are living your life so that you may hold your head high, everyone else is subject to your determination as to their validity of character and moral attributes.
Queen Victoria was one of the first advocates of use of marijuana, as she used it to battle her menstrual cramps. Maybe when she said this, she had just taken a big hit of Indica, who knows? Either way, I think it’s a good life lesson!
Happy Wednesday✨
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