You do what you are

In the movie adaptation of "Along Came A Spider" (I specify because I have not read the book) Morgan Freeman (playing Alex Cross) is talking to Monica Potter (playing Jezzie Flannigan) and says "You do what you are." She of course tells him that he got it backwards, it's supposed to be "You are what you do."

His response is interesting. He talks about how everyone is born with a gift or they acquire one through out their lives. "...what you're good at, you take for granted. You don't betray it." She asks what if you do betray it. He says, "Then you betray yourself. That's a sad thing."

Do you think that we do what we are? And that if we don't then that's a sad thing? What if you are good at something, but you take no joy in it? Would it be a betrayal then to not do it?

This sounds too much like playing on words. I believe you should do what makes you happy, regardless of whether your are good at it.

I say find happiness in doing what your good at.

Crack makes people happy.

The short term high from crack is a bit different from living a life you're happy with.

Also, I dont know how many crackheads you have had personal experience with, or how many crack houses you have been to, but in my experience,I have not seen a great deal of happiness demonstrated in any regard.

Perhaps I was hasty with my example.

My point is that long term happiness does not come from flighty interests. If I demonstrated more discipline in my youth and pursued my talents even when I didn't feel like it, I would likely be in a much better position.

I guess though that practice makes perfect as they say... if you persist with something you enjoy but are terrible at, you will eventually (I would hope) become good at it.

Edan wrote: I guess though that practice makes perfect as they say... if you persist with something you enjoy but are terrible at, you will eventually (I would hope) become good at it.

Fair point.

I think I kick myself out of habit when I look back...

The word "be" is a verb.

The word "are" is the 2nd person singular present and 1st, 2nd, 3rd person plural present of the word "be".

Without typical selective judgement, what does this tell you about what we "are"?

In my opinion he is referring to the characteristics of one self. For example: a compassionate person that turns malevolent, or an honest person suddenly acts as a liar, then they are betraying what they truly are, which is sad.

I do think that we do what we are, in the sense I said before.