Deceptive Dictums

The dictums that are fashionable in a certain generation often encapsulate some of its central beliefs, hopes, fear and inner contradictions. Is it not, for example, a sign of our times that we so casually throw at one another the dictum 'Love is blind' whereas it is arguably the case that it is hatred which is truly blind? Here are two other dictums that have always intrigued me.

(a) 'There are higher things in life than money' : It is somewhat strange that you will not hear a poor person coming up to you with this dictum that allegedly has the claim of being 'high-minded', 'holy' and 'spiritual'. It is usually people who have had a lot of money, even too much of it, and have got tired of the razzmatazz around them who suddenly do a volte-face and declare that wealth, status and privileges have become as meaningless and valueless as dust to them. That is, though it is indeed true that money has only an instrumental value, you must first have enough of it to realise the truth of this instrumentality.

(b) 'Ignorance is bliss' : Always be suspicious of people who use this dictum; it is highly probable that the ignorance that they are referring to is one whose removal will put their own position or status in poor light. Instead ask : ignorance is bliss for whom? Often the ignorance in question is a feigned ignorance such as the one of multinational corporations which set up chemical plants in distant countries, or of politicians and economists (who are in any case politicians in disguise) who formulate various kinds of international policies.