A Human Strategy #523

523

Sincerity is too often our inability to catch ourselves in self-deceit.  This complacency is a happier event than the moment when one detects the lie within oneself.  Nonetheless, suffering from one’s own dishonesty precedes self-correction.  If honesty with oneself is ever happy, then it is the happiness of a permanent victory after a solitary, painful struggle.  If one had pursued happiness, one would never have found one’s way to this type of satisfaction: a duped happiness at greater intensity is nonetheless inferior to its disillusionment.  Authenticity is half relief and half joy.  It is a happiness that sings at a lower key — but it is less vulnerable, less frightened and it sings one’s whole life long.

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