The word "phoney" is a contribution of America. Strangely, it exactly means what personality means. In Greek drama the actors used masks and they spoke through the mask. Sona means sound, and sound coming from a mask is called persona in Greek -- it is not the real man, but the mask. You don't know who is behind it; all that you hear is the sound, and you see a mask. The mask is a mask, it cannot speak. And the one who can speak you don't see; he is hiding. From persona comes the English word "personality". And phoney is exactly the same. Since telephones came into existence, you can hear people's voices through the telephone, and you don't see the person. And of course the voice also is not exactly the same; coming through wires or by wireless much is changed. It is phoney; "phoney" comes from "phone". Strangely, "persona" and "phoney" mean exactly the same. You don't see who is speaking, you only hear the voice. That too has gone through a change, through the mechanism; it is not exactly the same voice. Dale Carnegie's philosophy creates phonies, but the real purpose is to influence people. Why? To win friends, but why? What is the need? Two things have to be understood. First, influencing people is only a means to win friends. The word win has to be underlined. It has the whole of politics in it. The more people are under your influence, the more powerful you are. Your power depends on how many people are supportive of you, how many people you have influenced so much that they will be ready to do anything for you. Hence, the politician speaks in a language which is always vague -- you can interpret it the way you like -- so that many people can be influenced. If he is very clear and what he says is absolutely scientific -- without any vagueness, certain; if it has only one meaning, then perhaps he will succeed in annoying people. Taoism doesn't want to influence anybody. The very idea is ugly, and against humanity. To influence means to interfere, to trespass, to drag you on a path which is not yours, to make you do things which you have never thought of before. To influence a person is the most violent act in the world. Jesus says to his people, "On the judgment day I will sort out my sheep and tell God that these are my people -- they have to be saved. For others I am not concerned." And when you influence somebody, certainly you become the shepherd and that person becomes just a sheep. You are reducing human beings to sheep; you are taking their humanity away. In the name of saving them you are destroying them. Don't be influenced by anybody. Don't be impressed by anybody. Look, see, be aware -- and choose. But remember, the responsibility is yours. You cannot say, "Lord, I followed you -- now save me." Never follow anybody, because that's how you go astray from yourself.
