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Contraposition Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary
back oneself to inf
What does it mean?
With no attempt there can be no failure and with no failure no humiliation. So our self-esteem in this world depends entirely on what we back ourselves to be and do. It is determined by the ratio of our actualities to our supposed potentialities. Thus, success divided by pretensions equals self esteem. This illustrates how every rise in our levels of expectation entails a rise in the dangers of humiliation. What we understand to be normal is critical in determining our chances of happiness. It also hints at two ways for raising our self-esteem. On the one hand, we may try to achieve more; and on the other, we may reduce the number of things we want to achieve. The advantages of the latter approach lie in the following statement: To give up pretensions is as blessed a relief as to get them gratified.
With no attempt there can be no failure and with no failure no humiliation. So our self-esteem in this world depends entirely on what we back ourselves to be and do. It is determined by the ratio of our actualities to our supposed potentialities. Thus, success divided by pretensions equals self esteem. This illustrates how every rise in our levels of expectation entails a rise in the dangers of humiliation. What we understand to be normal is critical in determining our chances of happiness. It also hints at two ways for raising our self-esteem. On the one hand, we may try to achieve more; and on the other, we may reduce the number of things we want to achieve. The advantages of the latter approach lie in the following statement: To give up pretensions is as blessed a relief as to get them gratified.
Top answer
"back someone to do something" means to have confidence that they will achieve that thing. ) So, things that "back yourself to do" or "back yourself to be", are things that you are confident about achieving.
- "back someone to do something" means to have confidence that they will achieve that thing.
- ) So, things that "back yourself to do" or "back yourself to be", are things that you are confident about achieving.
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2 Answers
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"back someone to do something" means to have confidence that they will achieve that thing. (Sometimes, though not here, it refers to actually betting on an outcome that you think is likely, as in backing a horse to win a race.)
So, things that "back yourself to do" or "back yourself to be", are things that you are confident about achieving.
So, things that "back yourself to do" or "back yourself to be", are things that you are confident about achieving.
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