A Code of Strength

“The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.” - Ayn Rand

The Philosophy of Gorean Ideals is a complexity that few ever understand. I think it was designed that way for a purpose. Not everyone is suited for a disciplined, or structured Philosophy. Knowing this fact, make no mistake, the Gorean Ideals have both.

When Dr. Lange was asked, “Are you knowable through your work?” he replied:

“To be sure, anyone who has read the Gorean books surely knows me better than if he had not read them. On the other hand, it is necessary to read the books intelligently and honestly. If the books are read unintelligently and hysterically, the result, I think, would be that the reader would finish up knowing very little about either the Gorean books or me.” - The Questar Interview

It is the reason why I expend some of my time picking through the fiction to share with you the codes of conduct. It is for those of you who want to learn, want to achieve, and live a daily regimen applying a Gorean ethos. Through the months I have taken you on a journey, highlighting responsibility, integrity, truth, and courage. It makes perfect sense to me that I should follow up that path with strength.

It is said people don’t really understand their strength, not as a soldier, a parent, a husband, or a wife, as much as they thought they did, until it is put to the test. Then, and only then, do they begin to fully comprehend the incredible strength they have within themselves. Wouldn’t it be great if we could be sure we had control over the amount of strength it takes to succeed through the tests life puts us to?

Strength is a power within us that is physically and emotionally bound by our will. Our will is the means by which we produce the action of strength. Often is it physically divided between men and women. For example, men are physically stronger in their upper bodies, suited to move a couch or to lift a bookcase. Women are emotionally stronger, suited to deal with the tragedies and upsets of daily life. Goreans and the Philosophy have a very simple solution for the role each gender is suited for.

“‘Masculinity and femininity are complementary properties,’ I told her. ‘If a man wishes a woman to be more feminine, he must be more masculine. If a woman wishes a man to be more masculine, she must be more feminine.’” Page 205, Explorers of Gor

The above quote is the solution that makes this Philosophy unique in that sexuality is as much of strength for a man as his wars are, and women can easily acknowledge, with fierce devotion, such strength held over them. Women realize that they are far lovelier when pleasing such rare men than when arguing or striving against them. Though in the fashion of debate, a woman could look even more beautiful when falling to a man of strength.

I don’t believe for an instant that a weak man would be able to understand the realistic approach to living this ethos, let alone teaching it to another. Strength is not subjective when you apply it as a code of conduct in the ideals of Gorean living. It is a constant that must be enforced by our will, daily, as habit. I also know, for a fact, that women will neither address, nor acknowledge, weakness in a man. It is far better to lose a person who is weak, than to ignore a man who is Gorean by heart and works within the principles of Gorean ethos.

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure ... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

Thank you, Mister President, as Goreans we will do just that.

I wish you well,

Nyre

Copy@righted September 2004