Chapter 9 9. A case of changing life goals

Once the goal of superiority has been concretized, there is nothing wrong with the individual in his style of life.The habits and diseases of the individual are perfectly correct for the attainment of their particular ends, and they are beyond reproach.Every problem child, every neurotic, every alcoholic, criminal, or pervert has acted appropriately to achieve what they consider to be a superior position.It is impossible for them to attack their disease, because they have such a goal, they should have such a disease. There was a boy in a certain school who was the laziest student in the class. Once the teacher asked him, "Why do you always do so badly in your homework?" He replied, "If I am the laziest student in the class Students, you will always care about me. You never pay attention to good students, they don’t make trouble in class, and they do their homework well, how can you pay attention to them?”

As long as his goal is to get attention and upset the teacher, he will not change his style.It is in vain to ask him to give up his laziness, for he must do so if he is to achieve his purpose.It's perfectly fine to do this, and if he changes his behaviour, he's a fool. There was another boy who was well behaved at home, but rather stupid, who always lagged behind at school, and seemed mediocre at home.He has a brother who is two years older than him, but his brother's life style is quite different from his.He was bright and active, but naturally reckless and constantly causing trouble.

One day the younger brother was heard saying to his older brother, "I'd rather be stupid than be as rude as you!" If we think that his goal is to avoid trouble, then his stupidity is very wise indeed.Because because of his stupidity, less is expected of him, and if he makes a mistake, he is not blamed for it, and from the point of view of his goal, he is not stupid, he is pretending to be stupid.