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I have come to have the firm conviction that vanity is the…

“I have come to have the firm conviction that vanity is the basis of everything, and finally that what one calls conscience is only inner vanity.” quote by Gustave Flaubert
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“I have come to have the firm conviction that vanity is the basis of everything, and finally that what one calls conscience is only inner vanity.”

Gustave Flaubert

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Vanity underlies all, even conscience is self‑vanity.

In simple terms: Vanity underlies everything, even conscience.

Key Takeaway

Examine motives behind actions.

Themes

vanity conscience philosophy

Mood

critical inquisitive

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • literature
  • self‑reflection

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What drives your conscience?
  • Can conscience be pure?
A Different Perspective

Not all actions stem from vanity.

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