INDIVIDUALITY

Every human being should take a road of his own. Every mind should think, investigate and conclude for itself. Every soul must repel dictation and tyranny no matter where they come from. Each one of us is entitled to an honest opinion. The only way to have an honest opinion on any subject is to be free from fear. The tendency of orthodox religion today is toward mental slavery. No orthodox preacher dare preach what he thinks, if he knows a majority think otherwise. He realises that he is not expected to search the truth, but employed to defend the creed.
Mental slavery is mental death. Any man who has given up his intellectual freedom is the living coffin of his dead soul. We must remember that to be like other people is to be unlike ourselves and nothing can be more detestable than servile imitation. The poorest bargain a human being can make is to give his individuality for respectability.
To think and act for oneself is a responsibility. Most people hate responsibilities. They do what they are told without troubling themselves about the right or wrong or why of anything. They hate reformers and dislike to have their minds disturbed. They have a natural inclination to avoid personal responsibility.