Arrogance is ..., The Mechanics of Virtue, aphorism 335

335 

Arrogance is how we could avoid the hypocrisy of humility-on-display, but because the arrogant display is self-destructive, it is expedient that we become inverse hypocrites. That is, our hypocrisy goes in the opposite direction of theirs. They begin with a humility motivated by that universal need to redefine superiority. It is a species of arrogance to be humbler than others. Our hypocrisy begins with a private acceptance of arrogance and ends with the strategic display of moderation.

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