How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.

what the German philosopher, Vaihinger, called the pre¬ ponderance of the means over the end, A detour neurotic finds that a test performance can be avoided if he can create the physical syndrome of stage fright. He is excused once for his failure to perform. From this time, stage fright, originally a means to an end, becomes the immediate goal of his life. By the use of imagination and phantasy, he creates images of imminent failure, and thus produces the physical symptoms of stage fright anew. In the end he is involved in the little side-show of stage fright and its production. Half the energy applied in the direction of an attempt to be useful or amusing to his audience would make the detour neurotic suffering from stage fright a competent artist. The Flight from Reality 4. Evasion of reality by frank retreat from the battle-front. In this form of neurosis the individual more or less tacitly admits his inferiority to cope with the situations of life, and breaks into an open retreat. This retreat may take a variety of forms. Many retreat neurotics flee into the make-believe asylum of childhood. As they grow to maturity and realize the nature of the difficulties that face them, they turn tail, and direct all their efforts to the reproduction of childhood conditions of greater security and dependence. They simply refuse to grow up or to relinquish their belief in Santa Claus. They remain childish playboys, irresponsible, infantile, unconcerned with the problems of reality. Pleasure, comfort, ease, and security, together with irresponsibility, are their goals. Often they develop a very charming air of helpless¬ ness which definitely announces to the rest of the world : I am a helpless child. You must do something for me.” This country is cursed with a growing host of these adult infants who refuse to grow up. Films are made and magazines written for their edification. Our whole civilization abets them in their plans. They remain in¬ curable romanticists, and, when reality touches them, they retreat with an air of surprised and injured helplessness.