"How can you feel guilty for something you never saw?"
— From The Drawer
Put your jacket on — it's cold out — and come with me.
See that bridge down there?
Yes, I know you've been there before, but from the top of that bridge you can see what I want to show you — so follow me, and let's pick up the pace. The story is long and the hour is late.
Come, it's from this side of the bridge that you can see what I'm after. Now pay attention.
Don't let yourself be distracted by the golden colours of the sunset, or by the trees on the hills in the distance, and don't let yourself be carried away by the scent of autumn on the warm wind.
Lean over and look at that spot near the bridge pillar. No, a little further — there! Next to that fawn! Do you see it? What do you mean, "there's nothing there"?
Yes, I know all you can see is a bit of grass and a bush at that spot — but only because what we're looking for can't be seen.
I assure you that there is something there.
That is a convergence point.
Come now, don't make that face — you don't know what a convergence point is? No matter, that's exactly why I'm here.
You see, like almost everyone, you've been taught to believe that hatred is wrong. Every voice around you has told you so — so how could you think otherwise?
And yet I tell you that hatred may be the one thing we are truly meant to do.
Hatred pulls us out of stagnation.
Hatred is pure change.
Wait! Before you ask any questions, try to give me some answers.
You may have never noticed this — but every time you've tried to change something, every time you've fought for something, are you certain you knew the real reason driving you?
Does a man who loves himself try to change, to improve?
Does a man who loves his circumstances try to improve them?
Yes — perhaps he'll make them marginally more comfortable.
But listen carefully.
We only try to change what we hate.
Think about it.
I'm talking about real change — seismic change, the kind of force that drives progress. Other feelings play a part, of course — but if you dig deep enough, you'll always find it, however well hidden: hatred.
I can see you're not convinced.
Then listen closely.
An overweight person who wants to lose weight — why do they want to lose weight?
To look better and feel healthier, you say?
Right. And why?
Because our society — wrongly, perhaps — says it's better to be thin, you say? Because it's an idea that's taken root in everyone, you say?
Right. So what does the overweight person feel?
Injustice, you say? Allow me to suggest another word: resentment.
And where does resentment come from?
From anger. Correct.
And where does anger come from? Go on — say it.
From hatred. Good.
The overweight person wants to lose weight because they feel inadequate, rejected — and they hate the society that puts them there.
But that alone is not enough to change. If they truly want to change, they have to reach the point of hating themselves, hating their own body — and the more they hate, the more determined they'll become, and the more likely they are to succeed.
Or think of an artist. What drives them to create? Love of art, you say? No. It's the hatred of emptiness, the hatred of silence, the hatred of the meaninglessness of their own existence. The artist creates because they hate the world as it is, and they want to leave a mark on it, to change it, to make it different. The more they hate mediocrity, the more extraordinary their work will be.
I can see from the light in your eyes that you're beginning to understand.
Only those who hate make progress.
Want to change yourself? Hate yourself.
Hate the society you live in? Good. Hate it.
Hate the world? Hate it.
The greater your hatred, the greater your power to change things.
Hatred is an engine of imagination and energy unlike any other — it always finds a way to reach its goal.
Now — let's return to what I showed you earlier: the convergence point. In that spot, hatred accumulates and fuses together.
Whose hatred? People's hatred — obviously.
No, no, not everyone's — but trust me, a great many.
Why am I telling you this, you ask? Yes, forgive me for laughing — but you all ask the same question.
I'm telling you this to give you an opportunity. There is a great deal of hatred in you. Don't shake your head — you can't lie to me.
Remember: this is a virtue, not a flaw. Take it as a compliment.
What opportunity, you ask?
The opportunity to experience a hatred unlike any other. The opportunity to change the world. If you go to the spot I showed you, you will take on the hatred of a vast and countless multitude — and you will have an immense power to change things.
Don't look at me like that — I'm not mad.
And why in the world would I lie to you?
Now that you understand the mechanism, I can tell you something else.
How many people have I shown these convergence points to, you ask?
Many. In recent years — Nelson Mandela, Kennedy, Mao, Hitler, Churchill, Napoleon — and many others: writers, musicians, scientists, directors, entrepreneurs.
Think of anyone who has brought great change to the world and you can be certain we have met — since the dawn of time.
Does that seem absurd? A matter of perspective. To me it seems perfectly ordinary.
Of course not all of them did terrible things! But what does that matter? Have you still not understood? You can channel hatred however you choose.
Do you hate peace? Bring war. Do you hate war? Bring peace.
Do you hate injustice? Bring equality. Do you hate sadness? Bring joy. Do you hate death? Bring life.
The power of hatred is yours to use as you see fit.
What must you do, you ask?
You must choose. I've explained how it works, and I've shown you where to go. The rest is up to you.
Who am I, you ask? No — that doesn't matter.
A fucking choice, you say?
Are you sure you have a choice?