sith_happened: (Anakin: seriously?!)
Anakin Skywalker ([personal profile] sith_happened) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2009-09-16 11:30 pm
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Ethics [Thursday, September 17, 1st period]

When the students came into the classroom, they found Anakin scrawling a quote on the board:

“In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.”--John Ruskin

He turned around with an eyebrow raised. "Is Master Ruskin correct? How about Master Lao Tzu? He said: 'Pride attaches undue importance to the superiority of one's status in the eyes of others; and shame is fear of humiliation at one's inferior status in the estimation of others. When one sets his heart on being highly esteemed, and achieves such rating, then he is automatically involved in fear of losing his status.'"

He began pacing around the room. "Does pride always go before a fall? Do we have to be humiliated before we can learn? How high do the stakes have to be before we'll admit we've made a mistake, or have been fooled?"

"In order to deal ethically with other people, we need to acknowledge this very human flaw in ourselves and others. We want to believe that we are different, better than everyone around us." His gaze sharpened. "We're not. Everything is connected. You, me, the desks, the rocks outside, the deer in the preserve, the annoying person in the dorm who plays their music too loudly. Take pride in being yourself, certainly," he concluded. "But don't for a moment believe that who you are makes you more than the person sitting next to you. Because that kind of pride is where you make your first mistake."

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[identity profile] onlysmokesnics.livejournal.com 2009-09-17 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
Hayley thought for a minute.

"I think pride can lead you to being vulnerable," she said, a rare moment of insight. "It doesn't really mean you're gonna fall, but. If you're overconfident, someone might surprise ya."

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[identity profile] azuldragon.livejournal.com 2009-09-17 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
Azula turned a surprised glance at Hayley... that was... surprisingly insightful. And not so hard to hear.

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[identity profile] onlysmokesnics.livejournal.com 2009-09-17 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"...Well, any time you get beat, shouldn't you get time to be sad?" Hayley said. "I mean, that's only natural."

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[identity profile] onlysmokesnics.livejournal.com 2009-09-17 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, life is unfair," Hayley said. "That's just a given. You can't really blame it for nothin'."

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[identity profile] findingelena.livejournal.com 2009-09-17 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Elena nodded, impressed that someone thought to put it in terms of tactics.

"Pride is a blind spot," she agreed. "And any good enemy can find a way to exploit that."

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[identity profile] onlysmokesnics.livejournal.com 2009-09-17 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah," Hayley said. "And then people sneak up on you and drown you."