"Life is the art of being well deceived; and in order that the deception may succeed it must be habitual and uninterrupted"
- William Hazlitt
About this Quote
This quote by William Hazlitt suggests that life is a kind of art, and that in order to succeed in life, one should be able to trick themselves and others. The deceptiveness must be regular and continuous, meaning that it must be done consistently and without time out. This might be translated as a warning versus becoming too comfortable in one's own life, as it could result in complacency and a lack of progress. It might also be analyzed as a call to action, motivating individuals to take risks and challenge themselves in order to accomplish success. Ultimately, this quote suggests that life is a game of deception, which in order to win, one must have the ability to trick themselves and others in a consistent and continuous manner.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"