For it is easy in this way to deceive ourselves, since we thus come to think ourselves duly entitled to praise; and to this frame of mind a thousand delusions may be traced, when men are puffed up with conceit and expose themselves to ignominy and ridicule by committing the most egregious blunders.
Continuing his discussion on moral pitfalls, Cicero explains how self-deception fueled by flattery leads to conceit and foolish errors.
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For there are men who for fear of giving offence do not dare to express their honest opinion, no matter how excellent.
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