I didn’t think this was at all surprising (except when the writer identified herself with “us who are average looking,” which is laughable).
But it did make me think that some who are honest might too easily think that their honesty is evidence of great virtue. But why should that be true? Maybe I’m honest mostly because I’m incompetent at lying.
Just like someone claiming they made it through high school with their virtue intact because of their principles when in fact God helped the person by granting a scorching case of acne.
Zits and shyness are great temptations to self-righteousness.
So my laziness is a virtue? My tendency towards honesty is mostly a result of the realization that telling the truth is a lot less work that keeping track of what lie I told to whom, and when.
I’m shy and, as far as my track record growing up indicates, a pretty darn good liar.
So I’m not sure where that leaves me.
Ha, ha, ha! Zits and shyness did a good job of keeping me virtuous at school and college, and I wasn’t even a Christian then 😉
Of course, God knows what is in the heart
Chris, what you said. I think I was a little unclear so I edited the second sentence/paragraph. My point is not that laziness is a virtue, but that virtue is often really laziness….
On the other hand, I have to admit that sometimes people need to acquire the virtue of recognizing their limits. Common sense may not be highly virtuous, but there are many whose lack of virtue lead them to ignore basic rationality.
Maybe that is why many people who come across as virtuous to others don’t seem virtuous to themselves. They just think they’re taking the only right and rational path.
When people have affairs they are being evil, but they are also being really self-destructive. Recognizing one’s best interests is a great way to help one stay faithful. But escapist fantasies are themselves tempting.
David, my observations, on the other hand, had no basis in personal experience or dermatology. None whatever. Really.
Ben, you get to go to the basement with the nomlies. But you can earn extra nerd points by identifying my dead TV reference.
I’m afraid I had to Google it. But now I know.
Give me time – I’ve only started watching Firefly episodes in the last week or so, so obviously I’ve got a long way to go, TV-nerd-cred-wise.