Why Do You Think You Think?

Why Do You Think You Think?

An excerpt from the Atlas shrugged, book by Ayn Rand

·         Thought is a primitive superstition. Reason is an irrational idea.

·         The childish notion that we are able to think has been mankind's costliest error.

·         What you think you think is an illusion created by your glands, your emotions and, in the last analysis, by the content of your stomach.

·         That gray matter you're so proud of is like a mirror in an amusement park which transmits to you nothing but distorted signals from a reality forever beyond your grasp.

·         The more certain you feel of your rational conclusions, the more certain you are to be wrong. Your brain being an instrument of distortion, the more active the brain the greater the distortion.

·         The giants of the intellect, whom you admire so much, once taught you that the earth was flat and that the atom was the smallest particle of matter. The entire history of science is a progression of exploded fallacies, not of achievements.

·         The more we know, the more we learn that we know nothing.

·         Only the crassest ignoramus can still hold to the old-fashioned notion that seeing is believing. That which you see is the first thing to disbelieve.

·         A scientist knows that a stone is not a stone at all. It is, in fact, identical with a feather pillow. Both are only a cloud formation of the same invisible, whirling particles. But, you say, you can't use a stone for a pillow? Well, that merely proves your helplessness in the face of actual reality.

·         The latest scientific discoveries have demonstrated conclusively that our reason is incapable of dealing with the nature of the universe. These discoveries have led scientists to contradictions which are impossible, according to the human mind, but which exist in reality nonetheless.

·          Do not expect consistency. Everything is a contradiction of everything else. Nothing exists but contradictions.

·         Do not look for 'common sense.' To demand 'sense' is the hallmark of nonsense. Nature does not make sense. Nothing makes sense. The only crusaders for 'sense' are the studious type of adolescent old maid who can't find a boy friend, and the old-fashioned shopkeeper who thinks that the universe is as simple as his neat little inventory and beloved cash register.

·         Let us break the chains of the prejudice called Logic. Are we going to be stopped by a syllogism?

·         So you think you're sure of your opinions? You cannot be sure of anything. Are you going to endanger the harmony of your community, your fellowship with your neighbors, your standing, reputation, good name and financial security-for the sake of an illusion? For the sake of the mirage of thinking that you think? Are you going to run risks and court disasters-at a precarious time like ours-by opposing the existing social order in the name of those imaginary notions of yours which you call your convictions? You say that you're sure you're right? Nobody is right, or ever can be. You feel that the world around you is wrong? You have no means to know it. Everything is wrong in human eyes-so why fight it? Don't argue. Accept. Adjust yourself. Obey.

                                                      ************

UPSC 2013-new pattern

B. Main Examination

The written examination will consist of the following papers:

Paper-I
Section 1 Essay 200 Marks
Section 2 English Comprehension
& English Précis 100 Marks
(Of Matriculation/ Xth standard
level)

Paper-II
General Studies–I 250Marks
(Indian Heritage and Culture,
History and Geography of the World
and Society)

Paper-III
General Studies –II 250 Marks
(Governance, Constitution,
Polity, Social Justice and
International relations)

Paper-IV
General Studies –III 250 Marks
(Technology, Economic Development,
Bio-diversity, Environment, Security
and Disaster Management)

Paper-V
General Studies –IV 250 Marks
(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)

Paper-VI
Optional Subject – Paper 1 250 Marks

Paper-VII
Optional Subject – Paper 2 250 Marks

Sub Total (Written test) 1800 Marks

Personality Test 275 Marks.
Grand Total 2075 Marks

Syllabus

PAPER-I
Essay: Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given.
They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to
write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
English Comprehension & English Precis will be to test the English language Comprehension and English
précis writing skills (at 10th standard level).

PAPER-II
General Studies- I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
 Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times.
 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant
events, personalities, issues
 The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different
parts of the country.
 Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
 History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars,
redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism,
capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
 Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
 Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
 Effects of globalization on Indian society
 Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
 Salient features of world’s physical geography.
 Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent);
factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in
various parts of the world (including India)
 Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies
and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

PAPER-III
General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
 Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions
and basic structure.
 Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the
federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
 Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
 Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
 Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges
and issues arising out of these.
 Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments
of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
 Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
 Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
Constitutional Bodies.
 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation.
 Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the
performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the
protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
 Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications,
models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and
institutional and other measures.
 Role of civil services in a democracy.
 India and its neighborhood- relations.
 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s
interests
 Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian
diaspora.
 Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

PAPER-IV
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and
employment.
 Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
 Government Budgeting.
 Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and
irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related
constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution
System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
 Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and
downstream requirements, supply chain management.
 Land reforms in India.
 Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial
growth.
 Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
 Investment models.
 Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
 Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new
technology.
 Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and
issues relating to intellectual property rights.
 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
 Disaster and disaster management.
 Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
 Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
 Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking
sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
 Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with
terrorism
 Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

PAPER-V
General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity,
probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing
with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad
areas will be covered.
 Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions;
dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the
lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and
educational institutions in inculcating values.
 Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and
political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
 Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship,
objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weakersections.
 Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
 Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
 Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns
and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as
sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral
values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
 Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity;
Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of
Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds,
challenges of corruption.
 Case Studies on above issues.

PAPER-VI & PAPER VII
Optional Subject Papers I & II
Candidates may choose any optional subject from amongst the list of subjects given in para 2 (Group 1).
However, if a candidate has graduated in any of the literatures of languages indicated in Group-2 , with the
literature as the main subject, then the candidate can also opt for that particular literature subject as an
optional subject.

Leading Without a Title.” ~ Robin Sharma

THE

LEAD WITHOUT A TITLE 

MANIFESTO

These are few quotes which motivated me. Thanks to Robin Sharma...

It’s up to you.

Mastery or mediocrity?

Excellence or insignificance?

It’s up to you.

 Remember the 90 Second Rule:

Act on a good idea or great

opportunity within 90 seconds.

Before the voice of fear

begins to take over. 

 A Formula For Success:

A vision that moves you

+ Constant innovation

+ Daily action

 Let’s not confuse breathing

With really living.

 Leadership begins and ends

with 3 words:

Absolute Personal Responsibility

 Best way to improve the world 

Is to improve yourself.

 The only competition

worth focusing on

is against

what you were yesterday.

 Victims make excuses.

Leaders deliver results.

 There are no ordinary people.

Just people choosing to play

at ordinary.

 At the foundation of Mastery

lies simplicity.

Doing just a few things

spectacularly well.

 Expecting your dreams to come

true without doing daily acts to

make them happen is like

hoping for a big harvest – but

planting zero seeds.

 Amazing how far you will get

just by staying with something

long enough.

Too many people’s fears are

bigger than their faith.

When your devotion to doing

great work is larger than your

dedication to fortune and fame,

your career will explode

into high success.

 A failure

is only a failure

if you choose to view it

as a failure.

 Genius is not the result of innate

ability but deliberate practice and

the relentless pursuit of Mastery.

Who I’m becoming

is far more important

than what I own.

The first step to change

is taking the first step.

The things that you schedule

are the things that get done.

The thoughts

that you think today

determine the results

you’ll see tomorrow.

Passion is the secret sauce

that makes the impossible

probable.

The way you do the little things

is the way you’ll do the big things.

Everything matters.

How elegantly you manage

disappointment will determine

how quickly you’ll

experience success.

The greatest crime against

humanity is playing small with

your life.

Your next level of resistance

carries your next level of growth

and excellence.

One of the simplest and best

tactics for leadership and success:

Few things at Mastery

versus many things at mediocrity.

  Manage Your Time, Master Your Life 

The smallest of actions

is better than

the noblest of intentions.

You become who you

drink coffee with.

So associate with

world-class people.

 The impossible

is often simply

the unexplored.

Adversity introduces us to

resources we didn’t know we had

and muscles we never 

knew existed.

 What makes genius

isn’t just the big idea

but the brilliant execution

to advance it. 

As you reflect back over your life,

ask this powerful question:

Could I have done more?

If yes, do more now.

Life is too short to play small.

Be successful.

Even more importantly…

Be significant.

 The conversations

you are resisting

are the conversations

you need to be having.

 To be able to see

the good in others,

start with seeing

the good in yourself.

 Practicing your weakness

just makes them stronger.

 Smarter to be interested

than interesting.

 Run your own race. 

Who cares what others are doing?

Only question to ask yourself is 

“Am I progressing?”

 You can’t afford

the violence of negativity.

Stand up…and be the most

inspiring person you know.

Lucky breaks are nothing more

than the unexpected rewards for

intelligent choices.

Be a minimalist.

Less is more.

Focus on the best

- release the rest.

 Genius resides in seeing what

everyone’s seeing yet thinking

what no one’s thinking.

 If you try

you might

but if you don’t

you won’t.

 The journey of life

is nothing more than basic

training at expressing your

absolute brilliance.

Success is driven via evolution

versus revolution. Small daily

innovations stack up into stunning

results over the passage of time.

Hard work is the

opening act for a

headliner called

Success.

Leadership is about

what you do

when no one’s watching.

A time of no challenges and

problems is a time of no

advancement and growth.

The creativity and excellence

in you aches for expression.

To stifle it is to suffocate who

you truly are.

Driving faster

along the wrong road

slows you down.

Planning is profound.

How can you accomplish what’s

most important if you have no idea

what’s most important.

  

The best leaders honor their

commitments. And keep their

promises. Standing for your word

isn’t soft. It’s hard.

Build a zero-excuse zone

that radiates 5 feet around you.

Watch what happens to your

career – and life – success.

Be so stunningly great

at what you do people call you

virtuoso when you leave the room.

Smart leaders show up on time.

The best leaders show up early.

The less you worry about being

successful and the more you

devote to doing genius-level work,

the more successful you’ll become.

 Leadership is about a fierce

adherence to a vision

while everyone around you thinks

you’re wasting your time.

Any resistance you feel

when seeing someone else’s

success is the very block keeping

you from your highest success.

Make your personal opinion

far more influential on you

than public opinion.

You can’t have all you want

if you are focusing

on all you don’t have.

Pleasure comes from

getting nice things.

Fulfillment comes from

doing great things.

Victims blame fate.

Leaders own that they are the

scriptwriters of their lives.

What you speak more of

you will see more of.

Leadership is a bold stand 

for being your absolute best.

Mess creates stress.

Challenges are life’s way of

introducing you to an even bigger

version of you.

There’s a lot less competition

out on the extra mile.

Every 60-minutes ask yourself:

“What’s the most valuable thing for

me to do right now?”

Stop reciting your problems 

and start presenting your solutions.

We all wish we had more time

yet we waste the time we have.

Every great finish

was once a simple beginning.

Start now.