if one endures hardship in life, is this likely to cause eccentricity?

Answer 1

No. Hardship strengthens your nature, but it does not necessarily turn you into an original. There are plenty of eccentrics who have led a privileged and happy life. There also are plenty of people who have had a terrible existence and are as dull as dishwater and have not developed any uncommon habits.

Answer 2

i think it can make us more helpful and tolerant of others, or turn us into scrooges. Now, most are somewhat in the middle. As eccentricity, yes, hardship can bring out oddness--but originality is a part of human uniqueness in terms of creative tendencies or things far less interesting.
I often wonder if, for instance, always having plenty helps people become more insensitive and arrogant, in a word, makes them worse Prats than they would have been if poor.
Or, if being without indeed can make for people who are Rotters, Milksops, or Thieves.
The problem with being an eccentric my mum would say about someone a bit odd was something to the effect "He would be an eccentric if he had enough money, but instead he will have to settle for being plain loopy!"
Also, as I progress through uni at different levels, for the second time, I am convinced that an education can make people eccentric. Funny some people can be brilliant in one or more fields of academics, but be complete Knob heads in day to day activities. Yes, collegiate life is filled with educated people who are genuine, from the roots Prats, too.
Whatever life brings us, we are going to be nice, not nice, eccentric or rather ordinary depending on loads of factors, and yes, probably a hardship brings out our strongest traits, if we don't work against the pressure to make of ourselves what we wish to be!

Answer 3

I don't think it is a direct cause but it can definitely affect a person. I base this on several older people I know, the level of hardship versus the level of eccentricity. Those who have had a harder time of it are definitely a bit nuttier. Other factors are involved too such as money. It is much easier to be eccentric if you have lots of it versus only a little.

Answer 4

I don't believe so. All the eccentric people I have ever known have had life quite easy and have always been given everything. Enduring one's hardships in life tends to build character and compassion from my own experience.

Answer 5

Not really, it causes for people to become more aware of how to handle things, how to live the peaceful life they seek, and what kind of people to just stay away from in order to NOT endure much more hardship in life. But I do think that in age people tend to become more eccentric, leaving behind the everyday norms of how they "should" live their life.

Answer 6

Firstly, just for clarity, may i take this opportunity to let you know that not everything can be measured up on the fiscal scale to give it value... YOu either have originality or your don't.
the notion of eccentricity is just a label which denotes something negative because it serves to ridicule.
What it really is is a character trait showing originality and someone who's self-confident enough to know that they don't need others' opinions and ideas to validate their own take on life.
Eccentric people are generally leaders in their own, quiet, unassuming way, they or shall i say, we, are not easily influenced and as a person who is original in this manner, i can say for my part i think deeply about a lot of things. I dont like to talk or act if i dont think what i say is helpful or beneficial, or silly enough to tickle when its appropriate. I think eccentric people such as myself, are intelligent but with a creative flair. We know that intelligent people are seen as serious and uptight and all that, but we are also intelligent in a creative way.

Answer 7

I would say it's the opposite. An easy life would lead to eccentric behavior in the later years. A hard life would ground a person in the realities of day to day existence.

Answer 8

Not necessarily, But it can. It depends on whether or not the hardship leads one to "join the crowd" for protection, so to speak, or to create ones own way of life, outside the main stream. To some extent that is what I've done.

Answer 9

I dont think so (unless it was really something really horrible like war etc) Enduring hard times it what life is all about. Life is so not easy, but getting through the tough times means you are able to enjoy the the good times so much more because you appreciate them knowing it wont always be easy/good/fun....

Answer 10

It is all in the mind of the beholder ;-). Everyone endures hardships, it is the way we handle them and how we get through them....be careful of "your self talk". We tend to believe what we are told. Be kind to yourself today, you may be the only one.