But why? Because we crave simplicity. The real person, with their contradictions, insecurities, and mundane habits, is far too messy to fit the pedestal we’ve built. So, we create personas—larger-than-life avatars that represent what we need them to be, not who they are. Think of it as a social coping mechanism: we don’t want complicated truth, we want digestible inspiration.

“The only feeling that anyone can have about an event he does not experience is the feeling aroused by his mental image of that event.”

Walter Lippmann nailed it. Everything we think we know about someone—or something—we haven’t directly experienced is nothing more than a mental image, often colored by bias, media narratives, or the lens of our own experiences. This isn’t inherently bad; it’s just how the human mind works. The problem arises when we mistake these images for truth, acting on them without questioning their validity.

Unity Through Conflict: The Strange Paradox of War

Here’s a paradox to chew on: nothing unites people like a common enemy. As Lippmann pointed out, war can create a union sacrée, a sacred unity, where fear and hatred dominate. In the middle phases of conflict, before exhaustion sets in, whole populations can rally together with astonishing focus and energy. It’s primal, raw, and undeniably powerful.

But let’s not romanticize it. This unity comes at the cost of critical thinking, compassion, and individuality. Fear becomes the glue, and hatred the fuel. While it might temporarily resolve division, it does so by crushing dissent and hijacking our nobler instincts.

Actionable Insights: Breaking the Cycle

• Question the narrative: When you admire or criticize someone, ask yourself: “Am I seeing the full picture, or just the image I’ve been given?”
• Embrace complexity: Recognize that real heroes (and villains) are multidimensional. Try to understand their context rather than slot them into moral binaries.
• Resist fear-driven unity: Whether in personal conflicts or larger societal ones, avoid letting fear and hatred dictate your actions. Seek connection through understanding, not division.

Ultimately, understanding others—and ourselves—requires stepping beyond the easy narratives. It’s messy, sure, but it’s also where true growth happens.