Hi Erika,
I have to physically check to see if you have a new blog...I don't have automatic notification. Glad I caught this gem. So far I've only missed one of your posts.

I love this. Reminds me of a discussion we had in the comment section of my last post, about being naive.

So hard to know ourselves... you seem to be skilled at that. We can't accept the judgment of others (about ourselves), even though they know us well. Because there is always a hidden self (in my case, anyway).

Is it possible to be naive at 70 and 80---ha ha that hits home :) To have lived a challenging life and still meet people and see the best in them? Until they prove otherwise. I think we can insist on seeing light and not dark. It's sort of a survival mechanism.

So many lines jumped out at me:
"The king gave the fool the mandate of giving him a satiric image or persiflage to stay humble when needed"
" when uncertainty about ones motives comes about and someone else offers an accusation it is likely to be taken"
"The irritation should not serve my pleasure, but the well-being of the one to whom I want to give something good"

I'm so glad this post is receiving the recognition it deserves.

With appreciation and affection,
Your at-the-moment cheerfully reflective friend 😇
AG