Vanity usually means you know you are perfect. It’s like hubris but worse, for you not only believe you are right, but also can do no wrong. Every fault becomes a virtue. Everyone disagreeing with you becomes a bitter enemy. In short, vanity is not a pretty sin.
It is, however, a sin rampant in our culture, from educators to “influencers” to corporate officers, to politicians and the mobs that follow them. One can no longer be successful without being completely certain that they are infallible _ at least in the “truths” they are promoting.
Vain people are truly intolerant. At best they simply ignore anyone who does not worship their perfection. At worst they seek to destroy any opposing viewpoints. That is bad enough in a family or small organization which can be easily escaped. It is disastrous in national politics.
Sometimes a quick remedy is possible. A child shouts “the emperor has no clothes!” But often horrible excesses occur until a final crash and burn out, usually ending in the death of the powerful or arrogant.
Only then does history call “vanity” “hubris.” Blind stupidity. And maybe in these times of miracles – both good and evil – an immortal big brother will come into existence. True vanity will be able to rule forever, naked, wrong, or whatever.
HuntingtonHarborThoughts 