“Self-love is more cunning than the most cunning man in the world.”François de La Rochefoucauld · Maxime · 1665 · maxima 4
Self-love is the most skillful deceiver because it hides our own motivations from us.
La Rochefoucauld observes that our ego is a master of self-deception. We fail to notice when we act out of pride or self-interest, because self-love hides under the guise of reason or virtue. A person who believes they are generous may discover they help only to be praised, without acknowledging this motive.
Why it matters It helps us be more honest with ourselves and recognize the hidden motives behind our actions.