Rudyard Kipling's witty, provocative address turns a simple idea into a sweeping meditation on human nature. Opening with a Burns quotation, he argues that the wish to stand apart, "own oneself," and live by one's own lights is not a modern pose but an ancient instinct, born in humanity's earliest struggle for survival, balance, and solitude. With humor and irony, he traces the roots of speech, deception, and social life, suggesting that language first served the practical purpose of lying and that people have always tried to bend reality when it conflicts with desire. From there, Kipling moves into a sharp reflection on self-deception, youthful rebellion, and the lonely urge to escape authority, family, and the "facts" imposed by others. He imagines a scientific parallel in primitive life, where early humans, guided by dreams, spirits, or private gods, sought separation and independence. The result is a lively, imaginative defense of withdrawal, self-possession, and the enduring need to define oneself apart from the group. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.
