Feeling vs. Being, Again

If you really hate to think of yourself as someone who eats like a pig, you have two choices:

1. Not eat like a pig, or

2. Eat like a pig and attack anyone who notices.

#1 is the sane choice, though #2 is vastly more popular.

It's the same choice people make when they choose whether to feel smart or to be smart. Feeling smart locks you into stupidity, but at least you feel smart. Being smart locks you into feeling stupid, but while you scarcely notice your smartness, at least you won't actually be stupid. And nearly everyone chooses feeling smart over being smart.


We're all aristocrats now, and every naked Emperor feels entitled to affirmation.