ON VIRTUE

[human hypocrisy is the seed of every virtue]

Every noble value a person embraces > justice, generosity, courage, sacrifice, human rights > can be counterfeited into a mask used to conceal a narrow personal interest...people are skilled at turning virtues into makeup = hiding the ugliness of their own selfishness

Boasting and social noise are often inversely related to inner truth

The person who lacks honesty and integrity inwardly is often the loudest about honor in public

The miser praises the importance of giving

The coward wears the clothes of wisdom and heroism while putting on a show > AAAND

That (show) is only a desperate attempt to cover up a deep failure in real behavior and to create a smoke screen mask that keeps others from seeing the person's naked truth

The world is ruled by appearances and the greatest virtues we see and hear in society are often the brightest facades over the most decayed interiors and I've never been fooled by grand speeches or displays of values bcuz people driven by self/interest and fear are adept at playing the role of saints and the more insistently someone advertises a virtue the more cautious we should be bcuz they're probably trying to fill a vast emptiness inside their soul.and In that sense, therefore we should always dissect the narcissism of human falsehood behind every virtue