.i“ * ^ / . . . . . ` `~

Having read War & Peace not too long ago, this passage leapt out at me too. It seems right, that the pursuit of glory is a sort of living for others, that you’re trying to impress others; that, while emblazoning one’s name on history, a person is yet working against himself. But I think the tweeter goes too far in calling it altruism, first because it implies a benefit for others (whereas the pursuit of glory might be for others yet not benefit them.) Second, another way of looking at it is altogether is that it’s a psychological disturbance or need playing itself out in the world of the rest of us — see Good Old Neon and the fraudulence paradox, for one instance of how that might work — not the sort of spiritual munificence or aloof charitableness I identify with altruism. (Though she might be using a specific meaning of the word.)

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