The Illusion of Comparison: Why We Rarely See Things as Equal

Our minds are wired to compare. Almost everything we think is filtered through the lens of "bigger or smaller," "better or worse," "higher or lower." We rarely see things—or people—as equal. This habit isn’t something we developed overnight; it’s something we were taught, often unconsciously, from childhood.

 

There’s an old Hindi saying: "Door ke dhol suhawane lagte hain." It means: "The drums sound sweeter from afar." In essence, what’s far away always seems more attractive or better.

 

This mindset deeply affects how we view people—especially from the past. We often think our ancestors were somehow "greater" than us. Why? Because we’ve only heard about them through stories passed down from others—stories that highlight either only their best or their worst, but never the full picture.

 

Now, I won’t mention any big names here because that easily invites controversy. But I invite you to think of someone famous from the past. Imagine them living in today’s world. Think of how their actions or lifestyle would be viewed through today’s lens. Chances are, you'd realize they were just like us—no greater, no lesser—just human.

 

Here’s another example: Think of someone you knew who had flaws, maybe even bad habits. But once that person passes away, people mostly talk about their good qualities. Over time, even someone deeply flawed can be remembered as a role model. Strange, isn't it? How easily we shift our perception.

 

This is the power of selective memory—and comparison. We uplift or bring down people based on incomplete stories, filtered through emotions, time, and culture.

 

So maybe it’s time we asked ourselves: Is someone really better or worse? Or are they just... different?