Losing the Self

(Søren Kierkegaard - found here)

“[a person can] go on living fairly well, seem to be a man, be occupied with temporal matters, marry, have children, be honored and esteemed—and it may not be detected that in a deeper sense he lacks a self. Such things do not create much of a stir in the world, for a self is the thing least asked for in the world, and the thing which of all others it is most dangerous to let be noticed that one has. The greatest hazard of all, losing the self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss—an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc.—is sure to be noticed.”

~Søren Kierkegaard