Ego Activist

To someone who wrote he was avoiding social activism because it had been feeding his ego, the Rebbe replied:

“And without the activism there is no ego? Better a haughty activist than a self-centered do-nothing!”

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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Rebbe means teacher. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson is seventh in a prestigious line of chassidic rebbes. Even after his passing, he is known worldwide as simply "The Rebbe"- a Rebbe for any person in the world. This book offers every person a taste of the Rebbe's wisdom, condensed from over 50 years of letters, public talks, private conversations, and written works. Presented in an accessible format.

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10 Comments

Zecharya July 12, 2016

is there a source to this specifically? Reply

David Levant Emerson,NJ July 28, 2013

Above your daily dose of wisdom I saw you quoted Deuteronomy 6:6. I have a question concerning the English translation of these two words-diligently and thoroughly. Is there a distinction between the two words? I remember that one is to teach them diligently to your children,I never heard one say thoroughly to your children.Unfamiliar with the proper translation of Hebrew to English I think the former is right. If I am wrong or do not understand, please let me know. I only know that one word in Hebrew can have many different meanings. Reply

anon September 14, 2012

If your going to do something as an activist the only healthy way to do it is anonomously....IMHO

Maybe "I'm" not "there" yet. But, It has to be cut and dry for me that my ego isn't being "built" when I act. Reply

Thomas Karp New Haven, Ct. March 23, 2011

Where did ego become a four-letter word? The ego, in and of itself, is not negative or evil.

It is a necessary part of our survival.

It is our conscious self, and does entail how we perceive others view us or should view us.

Of course, how people view us and how we would like to be viewed often entails a certain level of falseness: For most people, it goes not much further than simply being considerate of other peoples' feelings; such as saying pleasantries ('have a nice day') when you don't really feel that way.

There is nothing wrong with stoking your ego with good deeds to others.

It figures that what your ego might be leading you to do, be it good, will eventually cause the heart and soul to engage to it; in effect to catch up to it.

It's fair to presume that G-d prefers that to the all too many people who attempt to inflate their egos by doing bad deeds.

Whatever gets you to the yetzer hatov self as opposed to the yetzer hara self is alright with The One True G-d; the ego being the 'fork in the road' between. Reply

Gabriella Piedmont, Ca March 21, 2011

Thank you...
I needed to read this today...
;-) Reply

Mordi March 21, 2011

few words huge impact Every so often i hear stories about The Rebbe like this. It is amazing how The Rebbe took difficulties of the questioning mind, as in this case, and snapped off sagacious advice.

It would be great if Kehot (Publishing Company) could compile and publish a book of such snappy replies, pearls of wisdom from The Rebbe. Reply

VNON Dana Point, CA March 21, 2011

Attached names This is something I think about daily as a musician who did the "high profile" gigs and now works as a teacher and activist. If we truly loved just creating as musicians, we would not be so quick to attach our names to everything that we think is going to either sell or become popular, this also encompasses activist work. Yes, you do get some personal gratification for knowing you made a positive difference in someones life but you can always do good for a complete stranger anonymously. Hopefully that would translate to them in turn helping a stranger. This is brilliant, thank you. Its the little things Reply

Tzvi Freeman (author) January 14, 2008

Clarification The Rebbe was speaking to a Jew who was heavily involved in projects for the sake of his community. He was reluctant to continue, since, he claimed, he discovered that he was only doing this for the sake of the status and praise it achieved for him.

In a similar situation, one of the Rebbe's predecessors had answered a man sharply, "Let an onion become of you! But you must continue doing your good work."

The Rebbe, however, pointed out that in that case, the man had an option: Without the good work he was doing, he was a humble man. It was a shame he had to become an onion--but, for the sake of others, it was worth it. In the case of this man who was writing to the Rebbe now, however, he was an onion already, even without the good work. If you're going to be an onion anyways, at least allow others to benefit! Reply

hp January 10, 2008

wow serious divine providence!!! this has been in my head .. Reply

Judith Anchorage, Alaska July 31, 2005

An ego activist I really needed this quote today, thank you! Reply

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