"The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy"
About this Quote
William Hazlitt’s assertion that hypocrisy is the only unforgivable vice confronts the reader with the paradoxical nature of self-deception and moral pretense. Hypocrisy does not merely involve making mistakes or failing to live up to one’s ideals; it centers on the deliberate adoption of a false appearance of virtue, masking one’s true character or intentions. Where other vices may be regretted and confessed in genuine humility, hypocrisy corrupts the very process of self-awareness and repentance.
The hypocrite is entangled in duplicity, not only misleading others but, more insidiously, undermining the possibility of sincere reflection or contrition. Hazlitt suggests that when a hypocrite expresses regret, that very act is likely yet another performance, a further act of deception designed to regain approval or avoid censure. Thus, the repentance of a hypocrite lacks authenticity; it is simply hypocrisy disguised as remorse. True repentance demands an honest confrontation with one’s own failings, a process that hypocrisy disrupts by substituting self-serving narratives for genuine self-knowledge.
Forgiveness presupposes authenticity in contrition. If repentance is itself a sham, built upon the same falsehood as the original misconduct, then the cycle of hypocrisy is unbroken. All other vices, anger, greed, pride, can be acknowledged, understood, and potentially absolved, as they do not inherently subvert the capacity for truthfulness about oneself. But hypocrisy erodes the foundation upon which moral restoration must be built: sincerity.
Hazlitt’s perspective carries a warning. Society may tolerate or forgive myriad transgressions, but when pretense replaces honesty, and remorse is merely another layer of disguise, the very notion of moral improvement is rendered meaningless. By positioning hypocrisy as uniquely unforgivable, Hazlitt highlights the indispensable role of honesty in both ethical conduct and the pursuit of personal redemption.
