*
In English, Latin loan-words carry overtones of intellectual,
moral and aesthetic superiority that are not
borne by their Anglo-Saxon equivalents:
‘maternal’ for ‘motherly’ for example or ‘intoxicated’ for ‘drunk’ etc.
*
Unfortunately, our word for ego, ‘personality’, is derived from the Latin,
and thus carries with it a high degree of respectability.
Were we to use its Anglo-Saxon equivalent, which we seldom ever do,
we may not be so enamoured of its glamourous yet wholly disreputable charms.
*
The Anglo-Saxon word for ego is ‘selfness’.
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“What, that very selfness which the prevailing view at all times
and in all places declares must be overcome in order to achieve
unitive knowledge and awareness of the Divine Source?”
*
“Yes, that’s the one…”
Selfness – I like that. 😀 Much better than the alternatives.
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A more honest designation, perhaps… 😉
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