“Outside Influences” - “What is Man”
The Old Man explains, “The iron's prejudice against ridding itself of the cumbering rock. To make it more exact, the iron's absolute indifference as to whether the rock be removed or not. Then comes the outside influence and grinds the rock to powder and sets the ore free. The iron in the ore is still captive. An outside influence smelts it free of the clogging ore. The iron is emancipated iron, now, but indifferent to further progress. An outside influence beguiles it into the Bessemer furnace and refines it into steel of the first quality.” External inspirations are mandatory in diminishing the inherent indifference in humans, who are typified by the iron. The course of purifying iron into an unalloyed metal is equivalent to the progression of swaying apathetic beings.
Approval - “Man's Sole Impulse—the Securing of His Own Approval”
The Old man elucidates, “Then perhaps there is something that he loves more than he loves peace—the approval of his neighbors and the public. And perhaps there is something which he dreads more than he dreads pain—the disapproval of his neighbors and the public. If he is sensitive to shame he will go to the field—not because his spirit will be entirely comfortable there, but because it will be more comfortable there than it would be if he remained at home. He will always do the thing which will bring him the most mental comfort—for that is the sole law of his life.” Appreciation activates intrinsic impetus which arouses humans. People naturally strive for veneration; thus are more inclined to engagements which will endorse their esteem. The craving for deference is undeniably innate in humans.
