We mistakenly assume that bodily survival has a higher precedence than ego survival. This is simply not generally true. Ego will happily destroy the body for its own sake. Look at overweight executives headed for heart attacks on the way to getting their pictures in Fortune or anorexic models suffering slow starvation on their way to getting their pictures in Vogue. Protecting ego is the general case. Karl Marlantes
About This Quote

We are all concerned with our own needs. To say that, however, is also to say that we are all egocentric. We celebrate ego while ignoring the needs of others. Our egos are selfish while our bodies are selfish.

Our egos want us to be happy while our bodies do not have any concern for happiness at all. It is our ego that is the real enemy, the one that causes us pain and suffering. It is only through the strength of our egos that we are able to get up off the ground each time we fall.

Source: What It Is Like To Go To War

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