Research Paper on "Akhenaton Quote "Honor Is the Inner Garment"

Research Paper 3 pages (1088 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Akhenaton Quote

"Honor is the inner garment of the Soul; the first thing put on by it with the flesh, and the last it layeth down at its separation from it." Akhenaton

The meaning of this quote is that our true moral convictions, those which we would rather die than compromise, define our being. The idea is significant for several reasons. First, Akhenaton is often credited with being the first individual in our civilization. To the extent that this is so, it would be because he is the first to stand apart from the norms and mores held by the world at large.

Akhenaton was the first Egyptian deity known to disclaim polytheism in favor of monotheism. His views were not widely accepted at the time, but he held firm in them. His belief in monotheism came to define Akhenaton because it was his most sacred value. (Freud 1939). He could not part with it and still be himself. His conviction to his innermost value and belief was his honor. This was the honor that was for and with himself, not for others. The honor referred to by Akhenaton in this quote is not necessarily that of being honest in tongue and action with his fellows.

Nor is honor in this context the measure of esteem placed upon one's shoulders by society or the ability to stand tall against an injustice or the oppressed. All of are examples of honor in its various contexts, many of which have direct application to Akhenaton's quote. But the essence of his quote, the context in which the quote was first uttered reflects only the inner workings of a person's battle against his own psyche. There is in fact a remarkable simplicity to it.

This quote has tremendous relevance in today's world. In modern life pressures and difficulties appear at all times of day and from a multitude of sources: people we know and care for, people we know and do not care for and people we do not know. We are exposed to many different people and so many different situations in any given day, often it is hard to remember every encounter we had with other people even hours before. In the struggle to win the battle of life for a given day in modern society, it is all too easy to compromise out own core values and beliefs for the sake of convenience, in the name of expedience or because protecting these values does not rank high enough on or priorities.

Akhenaton would cringe at this. Although he lived in a much simpler time, as the ruler of the then-largest nation state on the planet, he assuredly had his share of stressful moments during the course of the day. But he would not divest himself of himself. We would all do well to incorporate this sense of inner conviction. Of course, this requires some inward reflection and perhaps mediation to identify and determine our core beliefs and values.

The quote is closely aligned with the famous quote by French philosopher and mathematician Rene Descartes, Cogito ergo sum. Translated from Latin, this quote means: I think therefore I am. Descartes wanted to prove his own existence in the face of fallible senses and he determined that… READ MORE

How to Reference "Akhenaton Quote "Honor Is the Inner Garment" Research Paper in a Bibliography

Related Research Papers:

Inner Discipline and Reconciliatory Justice Research Paper

Inner Discipline and Reconciliatory Justice

Over the last several years, the field of education has been continually evolving. This is because of shifts in how teachers are reaching out to… read more

Research Paper 3 pages (930 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Education / Teaching / Learning

---

Honor Explored in Shakespeare's I Henry IV Essay

Honor Explored in Shakespeare's I Henry IV

Honor becomes a principal theme in William Shakespeare's play, I Henry IV. Through the young men, Prince Hal and Hotspur, Shakespeare delves into… read more

Essay 5 pages (1394 words) Sources: 2 Style: MLA Topic: Literature / Poetry

---

Honor Killing Essay

Honor Killing

The legal case known as the Massie Affair is described and analyzed in the book Honor Killing Race, Rape and Clarence Darrow's Spectacular Last Case by David E.… read more

Essay 4 pages (1417 words) Sources: 1 Style: MLA Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Honoring Commitments. This Is at the Heart Term Paper

Honoring commitments. This is at the heart of contract law.

The purpose of the present paper is to discuss the Montessori Method. The focus will be on the relationship between… read more

Term Paper 5 pages (1346 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

Pastoral Theology Essay

Inner Way: Toward a Rebirth of Eastern Christian Spiritual Direction

The objective of this study is to examine the work of Joseph Allen entitled "Inner Way: Toward a Rebirth of… read more

Essay 5 pages (1318 words) Sources: 1 Style: MLA Topic: Religion / God / Theology

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>