The age of anxiety inevitably leads to an age of fanaticism, as people seek crude palliatives for the dizziness of freedom. But throughout history the wiser minds have understood that anger and moral posturing are not a good antidote to rage and fanaticism. In fact, the most powerful answer to fanaticism is modesty. Modesty means having the courage to rest in anxiety and not try to quickly escape it. Modesty means being tough enough to endure the pain of uncertainty and coming to appreciate that pain.

Source: New York Times August 15, 2017 07:18 UTC