““Buonarroti, who even before this had not been especially good-looking, felt terribly ugly from then on. He overcompensated by throwing himself into his work and career, often shying away from romantic possibilities as a defense against heartbreak. He became more and more of a perfectionist and an egotist. Psychologists have a term for this behavior. They call it grandiosity, covering up deep feelings of inadequacy with arrogant or overbearing behavior. Unfortunately, for the rest of his life only a few beloved friends and companions would be able to see through this façade of grandiosity to get close to the lonely, sensitive, love-starved dreamer beneath.””
