The Empire of Reimia (3)

“I tend to believe that there is something in people that cannot be explained rationally – things that are purely individual and subjective, and therefore, in the grand scheme of things, do not really matter, just like tastes and any other preferences of a person as a unit of society. As for pride, in my opinion, it borders on stubbornness and is sometimes destructive. There are objective things that can be a reason for pride or shame – physical characteristics, skills and abilities, or their absence, achievements, and certain events from the past, and much more. But pride in relation to what happened today is subjective, because one person may feel humiliated because they had to touch someone else's boots with their lips, while another person may be proud of exactly such an act, again – depending on their preferences and attitude towards the recipient of this action. At the same time, the person from the first example could try to preserve their pride and refuse to perform this act or somehow express disrespect for the authority that forced them to do it, but what would be the result? Most likely, either imprisonment or the death penalty. Yes, this person will preserve their pride based on their subjective perception of it, but can this be admired? I don't think so, moreover, exchanging one's life for a fleeting feeling of illusory freedom, succumbing to emotions, suggests that the person lacked either wisdom or intelligence, or perhaps both. I can understand such a decision from a person in bondage, forced to lead a hopeless existence, because they simply have no other choice, but from a person endowed with freedom, albeit somewhat limited, and having a number of opportunities in their life, it will seem foolish to me. In the context of the relationship between a citizen and the state, obedience is a positive quality, as it is one of the requirements for the organized functioning of society. Of course, it is not for me to say, but if the Rheian people have agreed on such a form of government, then they should live according to the established rules or look for another place to live.”