Hegellian Gleichgültigkeit is the basic principle for a great relationship with humanity. This is true indifference, just an absolute “0″ with no positive or negative. In such a state it is unclear whether a person despises everyone or loves everyone. In reality, all of us (or most of us who aren’t mother Theresa or a murdering sociopath) oscillate between these two extremes, but if we can manage indifference that’s when they both come to rest. This is Stoic ataraxia in practice. A person comes through to those who are around him as “hominus urbanus”, but who know what’s on his mind. Is it love for humanity? Is it contempt? It is actually neither, it is indifference. I think it is also a root of true modesty. Don’t care about what others think of me at all. Not just “don’t care”, but really others do not exist in that respect, complete calm. And so the person walks around in the shadows, avoids all nuisance and everyone around him thinks he is just modes. Grigoriy Perelman refusing his million dollar awards would be a great example.
