“Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being. Without interrelation with society he cannot realize his oneness with the universe or suppress his egotism. His social interdependence enables him to test his faith and to prove himself on the touchstone of reality.”
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Source: Young India, 21 March 1929 (p. 93).
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Standing alone is only half a life. Self-sufficiency is worth prizing, but the counterweight matters just as much: leaning on others checks your ego and tests your convictions against real people, something solitude can never quite accomplish.
When to use it
- A freelancer who guards their independence yet joins a peer group to stay honest about their work
- A retiree who stays sharp and less self-absorbed by volunteering alongside neighbors
- A specialist learning humility only when a project forces them to rely on others' skills