Philosophy Discussion Forums

This is a discussion forum topic for the November 2022 Philosophy Book of the Month, In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All.


ONE OF A MILLION VS ONE IN A MILLION


If you're aiming to be one in a million, you'll have to resist a lot of people and things seeking to sand you down into merely one of a million.

There's nearly 30,000 #1 high school valedictorians every year in the USA alone. There's the same number of star quarterbacks. There's the same number of prom queens and prom kings, double if you count in a gender neutral way. Even being #1 in a small pond can seem bigger than it is. The highest honors some are told to seek wouldn't even have them take one step out of their little pond, and most won't even reach that.

Most people do what most people do, and mostly the whole outer world pushes them to.

Those good-hearted people who care about you most will tend to be the ones who most encourage you to keep your ship in harbor, where it's safe. That's not what ships are made for. That's not what you are made for.

Everyone dies, but not everyone really lives.

If you want to really live, you not only have to usually sail off on your own all alone, you have to do it while good kind-hearted people earnestly scream at you to not go, and tell you that, "for your own good", you need to come back to shore, and stay with them and the rest of the crowds huddled on shore worshiping at the idols of safety, comfort, conformity, and longevity.

Your ship will sink one day no matter what you do. But many ships are still at shore when they sink, having never sailed even once.

Sail free, my friends! Sail free!






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I agree with this text save for stating that good kind-hearted people will encourage you to keep your ship in harbour. I think that most of them will encourage you to keep fighting for you to be victorious in this life. Your winning is something that matters to them genuinely.

True! It takes courage and determination to be that one in a million. I love where you say,

Everyone dies, but not everyone really lives.

"One in a million" suggests extreme rarity or uniqueness, implying that there is only one instance among a million others. It's often used to highlight something or someone extraordinary, standing out from the vast majority. On the other hand, "one of a million" doesn't have a standard idiomatically recognized meaning. It might be interpreted as just one among many, without emphasizing the exceptional rarity implied by "one in a million."

The metaphor of the ship is powerful—ships aren't built to remain docked, and similarly, people aren't meant to stay within the confines of comfort and conformity. The message here is about the courage to venture into the unknown and live authentically, despite the well-intentioned cautionary advice from others.

The distinction between "one of a million" and "one in a million" is crucial. Being "one in a million" signifies rarity and uniqueness, standing out amidst countless others. Conversely, "one of a million" suggests blending into the crowd, lacking individuality. Striving to be "one in a million" requires embracing one's distinctiveness and resisting conformity. It's about recognizing one's potential for greatness and refusing to settle for mediocrity. Embracing this mindset empowers us to pursue our dreams boldly and authentically, rather than succumbing to societal pressures to conform.

I totally agree with this. Conformity will and has crippled our society. Making it big is not just a dream it is a reality to those sailing on the high seas not still stuck at the harbor. It's to those who seek glory. Not the glory of people but the glory that comes from within you, from what you are and given to do. It's who you are that determines what you do and ultimately why you are 'One in a Million.'

Taking risks is intimidating, especially when the people close to us, with all the best intentions, want us to stay in the safe zone.

It’s safe in the harbor, but ships are meant to hit the open water, even if that means taking on some storms. You shouldn't let the possibility of failing or changing how you appear stop you from pursuing the things that truly bring you joy. Not everyone will understand, and you may even frighten some people away who don't want to watch you struggle. Ultimately, though, if you don't make the leap, you may find yourself stranded and wondering what may have been.