Value is Defined by Success, Not Principles

Individuals often align their values with societal norms and measures of success rather than their own principles or abilities. The motivation for such alignment can stem from personal gain, social standing, and the desire to maintain popularity. In a shifting political landscape, like the rise of Nazism, the lure of power may override personal beliefs, prompting individuals to adapt their identities to fit in with prevailing ideologies. Additionally, one can become disillusioned through experiences of humiliation, leading them to cynicism or nihilism, reflecting a deeper critique of societal contradictions between preached equality and practiced elitism.