Many people are generous to themselves while applying strict standards to others. Why does this happen? It is because when we look at ourselves, we view from too close a distance, whereas when we look at others, we view them from too far a distance, seeing only their vague outlines.
If we reverse this distance and observe others calmly, we come to realize that others are not as deserving of criticism as we thought, and that we are not as worthy of generous tolerance as we believed.
- Excerpt from 'The Words of Nietzsche' -
Many people criticize others. Sometimes they even condemn them. However, if we think about others for a moment and put ourselves in their shoes, we might find that they are not as bad as to deserve such condemnation—assuming they are not criminals who truly deserve criticism (like Oh Won-chun, Cho Doo-soon, etc.).
Conversely, I should not be lenient with myself. I must not fall into the fallacy of self-rationalization. This carries enough danger in itself. If I accept myself without reflecting on who I am, 'I' will crumble in moments of hardship and difficulty. No one will be by my side. I will have to bear the world's criticism alone. Because during those times when I was lenient with myself, the people around me were hurt and wounded just as much.
On the other hand, thinking about it lately, I have too many obsessions regarding myself. And there is a point where I impose these on others. This is also dangerous. It doesn't matter when it comes to myself. However, I must respect others. As time goes by, I have been hiding the word 'giving up' behind the word 'understanding'. Yes, all the people I think of cannot act the way I think and want them to. After all, even 'I' cannot do that myself. If so, ultimately, what I can do is hide the disappointment of 'giving up' inside the pretense of 'understanding'. And through this, I find a little peace of mind.
As time goes by and I finish reading 'The Words of Nietzsche', I hope that I will be able to fully contain 'understanding' within the word 'understanding'.