I have always felt that the preoccupation with social causes and “social justice” is somehow superficial, and that the real meaning of things resides elsewhere. This is, of course, quite a lonely way to feel these days, though no more lonely than any other really individual feeling, which I suppose is what drives most people to leap into the safety and community of collective ideologies. There have been, of course, a few brilliant, if eccentric, people who have felt the same way, as I was reminded of the other day when I read this from Fernando Pessoa:

“Nothing irks me more than the vocabulary of social responsibility. The very word ‘duty’ is unpleasant to me, like an unwanted guest. But the terms ‘civic duty’, ‘solidarity’, humanitarianism’ and others of the same ilk disgust me like rubbish dumped out of a window right on top of me. I’m offended by the implicit assumption that these expressions pertain to me, that I should find them worthwhile and even meaningful.

I recently saw in a toy shop window some objects that reminded me exactly of what these expressions are: make-believe dishes filled with tidbits for the miniature table of a doll.”