Eric Hoffer Vanity Quotations

The burning conviction that we have a holy duty towards others is often a way of attaching our drowning selves to a passing raft. What looks like a giving hand is often a holding on for dear life. Take away our holy duties and you leave our lives puny and meaningless. There is no doubt that in exchanging a self-centered for a selfless life we gain enormously in self-esteem. The vanity of the selfless, even those who practice utmost humility, is boundless.

We probably have a greater love for those we support than for those who support us. Our vanity carries more weight than our self-interest.

The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders.

There is no doubt that in exchanging a self-centered for a selfless life we gain enormously in self-esteem. The vanity of the selfless, even those who practice utmost humility, is boundless.

Naivete in grownups is often charming; but when coupled with vanity it is indistinguishable from stupidity.

The hardest thing to cope with is not selfishness or vanity or deceitfulness, but sheer stupidity.