Every person carries the habit and desire to reveal the value of their existence outwardly—to be recognized, loved, and respected by others—and this desire is an essential habit of human nature. This is why so many seek to grasp power. Pride arises either from the desire to boast of one’s existence, following the cravings of the flesh, or, conversely, from a sense of victimhood and inferiority—a defensive posture born of not wanting to be treated carelessly, despised, or exposed in one’s insignificance. Everyone, throughout life, acquires a sense of victimhood from greater or lesser wounds. Yet those who have lived from childhood under poverty, abuse, contempt, and rejection bear even deeper and greater wounds of victimhood. From parents and relatives, school or community life, poverty, harsh society, or humiliation and abuse, wounds are inflicted and formed, and in defense against such wounds, man produces pride, a form of inferiority. In other words, pride is the effort and defense that arises from a sense of victimhood, in order not to be despised, rejected, or isolated.
Inferiority born of childhood wounds, carried through a lifetime, inevitably produces habitual over-tension, excessive fear, and constant over-awareness of others. Such people develop a stronger-than-usual obsession to work harder than others. Because the obsession is so great, many fall into panic under tension or lose clarity under excessive pressure. Tasks once performed with ease often turn into repeated mistakes, for lack of confidence under constant nervousness and over-attentiveness to others. Thus the cycle worsens, magnifying their sense of victimhood. Severe cases result in people developing an aversion to facing others, fearing human encounters more than death itself, and thus they come to avoid people altogether.
Inferiority fosters oversensitivity to the gaze of others, excessive nervousness, and an inflated sense of competition, all of which trigger even greater obsession. Those who are deeply bound by inferiority are perpetually cautious of others, overly watchful of every reaction, so that no one around them can truly share in deep communication. Because they constantly focus on how others treat them, their hearts remain in unending tension. Their own inferiority and obsessions only render them more anxious, uneasy, and restless. In short, because of inferiority and hyper-vigilance born of victimhood, they cannot ever rest in peace of mind. They remain trapped in their own cage of self-made tension, suffocating and struggling within illusions born of excessive suspicion.
Over-sensitivity and extreme nervousness cause thoughts and judgments to become continually exaggerated, chained to memories of past wounds and habits of pain. As a result, their thoughts spiral endlessly in fruitless worry, never producing clarity of mind or wisdom. They prioritize appearances, reputations, and the gaze of others over true focus on tasks. Obsession narrows vision, limiting understanding. Sometimes they are excessively meticulous to the point of obsession; at other times, they are indifferent and unfocused to an extreme. This duality stems from inferiority and victimhood—between the psychology of avoidance and the desire to prove one’s worth through effort.
Those with strong inferiority, because of their exaggerated thoughts, distort reality into near-delusional rationalizations, treating anyone who disagrees as an enemy. They think opposition to their views means contempt or rejection, and they seek to assert their views to have their worth recognized. Thus, anyone who resists becomes an enemy. Such delusions born of victimhood nitpick faults, brood over wrongs, and fuel extreme reasoning to justify themselves. Unlike those with hot tempers who flare and clash in the moment, such people harbor grievances inwardly, storing them to use as weapons later. They may seem considerate, but their “concern” is not from genuine compassion; it is driven by momentary emotions, fluctuating according to mood. Their decisions and actions, therefore, lack constancy, being swayed by passing feelings rather than governed by deep compassion, understanding, and mercy.
They habitually look down on those they deem beneath them, treating them harshly, while flattering and fawning excessively upon those they deem above them. At first, they may appear kind, but soon their contempt shows. Such people are double-minded—different outwardly and inwardly, inconsistent in words and deeds. Though polite and seemingly kind, they are calculating, self-centered, and competitive, leaning on their own diligence and abilities to justify treating others poorly. They examine others’ faults closely, while ignoring their own, using such scrutiny only to rationalize themselves. Thus, inferiority rooted in victimhood habitually interprets others as rivals, turning judgment toward enmity. And though they know this tendency, they cannot change it. Anyone who disagrees becomes an enemy, and their judgments and actions sway endlessly with their moods.
Furthermore, under the banners of nation, people, or religion, many indulge in outrageous interference—judging, slandering, and hurling abuse at others without restraint. Such arrogance is the height of pride. If one wishes to rebuke sinners with harsh words, should he not first remove the sins he himself repeats? To condemn another while remaining enslaved to one’s own sins is like calling a thief righteous in comparison to a robber. This is why Scripture says: “First cast out the beam out of thine own eye” (Matthew 7:3–5), and “Judge not thy brother” (Romans 14:13). For sin is not only the outward acts judged by human law, but also the inward sins of envy, jealousy, hatred, lies, pride, wrath, and lust—sins worthy of death (Romans 1:23–33).
Today, through the media, countless people view others’ evils from afar and, as though it were their own matter, join in collective criticism, hurling insults and slander with extreme and violent judgment. Yet such reactions are not the beautiful heart of self-reflection, compassion, and mercy that uses another’s sin as a warning and reminder that none of us are free from sin. Rather, it is the collective venting of anger and bitterness born of victimhood.
To rebuke sinners with virtue is beautiful, but to slander and abuse them out of bitterness and resentment is itself another deadly sin (Romans 1:28–32). Since inner sins of envy, hatred, or lust are not punished by human law, men indulge them carelessly. Yet these unchecked sins accumulate in the heart until conscience itself is devoured, turning men into beasts devoid of guilt. In today’s society, the reflex to treat any opposing opinion as an enemy has deepened absurdly within religion, politics, media, law, and culture, spreading despair and division. This arises because egocentric desires, devoid of conscience, dominate. Victimhood—rationalizing one’s absolute self-centeredness—has become a plague upon society.
Can there truly exist, in this world, someone who can satisfy the endless greed born of human desire? To open one’s heart in true communication, care, and love for others, one must break free from the illusions of victimhood and inferiority, which exist only for self. For these illusions yield only selfishness, wounding the hearts of others, and from this arise endless misunderstandings within human relationships. Such delusions—exaggerated perceptions created to justify oneself—pile lies upon lies. And because of this habit of hostility, man cannot reveal his hidden evil heart as it is. Thus, he cannot open his heart in truth to communicate, to care, to cherish, or to love.