|
the cloak of morality, two minor sins are accomplished: a little deft detraction, and a good bit of sly self-praise. Both are utterly distasteful. One cannot insist too strongly that all sly self-praise, and most especially that which implies a detraction of someone else, be rigorously avoided. When a person feels that he just has to commend himself for something or other —as is sometimes quite right— he ought to do it in one of two frank and open ways. The first way is to say so simply and openly, just as our Lord openly and frankly said, "I am the way, the truth, and the light." A person can simply say, "I rate myself as about as good a cook as one can find among amateurs" or "When it comes to lying I am a Quaker, I refuse to tell lies even to help my friends." Then, people can either accept the statement frankly or question it or twit about it. And nobody needs to feel queasy or embarrassed. |
|||
|
