Cerutty stressed the necessity of being yourself and not mimicking or copying others. He added that this is something done by children but should never be done by adults. He wrote rather cynically that 'copying' was one of the reasons various "idiocies" were "perpetuated from generation to generation."
Consider this: "Thus it is far better to study oneself than to study others. When we have mastered ourselves as persons: recognized out weaknesses, and tried seriously and conscientiously to overcome them: when we have discovered by trial and error(such as by tests: pitting ourselves against standards)--we can then have a chance of reasonably evaluating ourselves as against our fellows.
But the prize above all is not in being 'clever', but in being an individual" unique, and if necessary, different.
Nothing is more deadening to the personality than conforming: nothing more chilling than mediocrity."
Cerutty certainly lived those words during his lifetime.
He believed that the person who truly wanted to succeed should question "the orthodox: the traditional: the safe, the secure, the satisfactory(in athletics and life)."
Ultimately, what I believe Cerutty was getting at was: a 'blueprint' for becoming the total(ultimate) person/athlete.
Rigorous self-evaluation, sincere, sustained efforts to improve, a questioning nature, as well as individualism were the keys to becoming all we can be.
I see the wisdom of what he is getting at. I also see where I have fallen short in following those words. How about you? It is never too late to change.
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