"Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does not possess"

This quote by Samuel Johnson speaks to the human tendency to attempt to be something we are not. We frequently try to show qualities that we do not have in order to impress others or to harmonize a particular group. This can be seen in the way people dress, talk, or act in order to fit in with a certain crowd. Sadly, this typically leads to wasted time and energy as we try to be something we are not. We might also be trying to live up to a suitable that is impossible to attain. This quote works as a suggestion to be true to ourselves and to concentrate on developing our own unique qualities rather than attempting to be somebody we are not. It is important to recognize our own strengths and weak points and to focus on establishing our own distinct qualities.