A variation on a theme I return to again and again, that of mixed motives in what we do in life.
Most people look for purity of motive in deciding whether to judge someone positive or negative. The more obvious virtue in the act, the better the judgment, the more vanity in the act, the worse the judgment.
I think that is us being enamored of a fictitious ideal. We like the stories of old that idealize the heroes and it such a clear and easy world those stories tell of that we dearly wish to find that in real life. However, reality is the ultimate hard-ass partner, not allowing us the luxury of that fantasy for very long.
Why not simply embrace that virtue and vanity are linked, that one will always travel with the other. Why think that is wrong for them to travel side by side? Why not welcome them when they accompany one of your friends or family, or a celebrity you see on TV? You might as well, since you know V and V are going to accompany you when you go visiting, and you would like them to be welcomed as part of who you are, right?
It makes life much more comfortable and real to admit the reality of our lives and our motives in it.
Drawing © Marty Coleman
“Virtue would not go so far without vanity to keep it company.” – Francois, Duc de la Rochefoucauld, French aphorist and swashbuckling roque, 1613-1680