“Hope deceives more men than cunning does.”
Vauvenargues
“Hope deceives more men than cunning does.” Vauvenargues
Self-deception is often more problematic than the efforts of others to deceive us. Usually, we are more aware of and better prepared to ward off the threats of being deceived by others than we are of those presented by ourselves.
People often fool themselves by choosing goals in which they foster hopes that are impractical and unrealistic, and that do not suit them as individuals. What they hope for has little chance realistically of satisfying them and making them happy. They end up fooling themselves by chasing self-deceiving hopes.
“Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.” Coco Chanel
“Better to know the quick pain of truth than the ongoing pain of a long-held false hope.” Trudi Canavan
“False hopes are more dangerous than fears.” J.R.R. Tolkien
Getting Personal
From your own life, do you have any examples of self-deception? Identify one, and describe it in your own words.
