--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is less mortifying to believe one's…" description: "\"It is less mortifying to believe one's self unpopular than insignificant, and vanity prefers to assume that indifference is a latent form of unfriendli..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/edith-wharton-512_assuming_it-is-less-mortifying-to-believe-one-s-s_1727369.png" --- # It is less mortifying to believe one's self unpopular than… ![“It is less mortifying to believe one's self unpopular than insignificant, and vanity prefers to assume that indifference is a latent form of unfriendliness.” quote by Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/edith-wharton-512_assuming_it-is-less-mortifying-to-believe-one-s-s_1727369.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/edith-wharton-512_assuming_it-is-less-mortifying-to-believe-one-s-s_1727369.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/edith-wharton-512_assuming_it-is-less-mortifying-to-believe-one-s-s_1727369.png) > “It is less mortifying to believe one's self unpopular than insignificant, and vanity prefers to assume that indifference is a latent form of unfriendliness.” [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People prefer to think they are unpopular rather than insignificant; vanity masks indifference as unfriendliness. **In simple terms:** Vanity prefers feeling unpopular over insignificant. Key Takeaway Be aware of how vanity distorts self-perception. Themes vanity self-perception social status Mood analytical reflective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - social interactions - self-esteem - public image Key Concepts psychology literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - Why is being unpopular less painful than being insignificant? - How does vanity shape our social judgments? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex social dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assume Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assume-indifference-1397429/) [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Indifference Latent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference-latent-1397427/) [Insignificant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificant/) [Insignificant Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificant-vanity-1397425/) [Latent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latent/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Unpopular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-unpopular-1397426/) [Unpopular Insignificant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpopular-insignificant-1397428/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) ## Related quotes > [My last page is always latent in my first; but the intervening windings of the way become clear only as I write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/my-last-page-is-always-latent-in-my-first-but-the-intervening/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [States have two kinds of power: latent power and military power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/states-have-two-kinds-of-power-latent-power-and-military-power/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [Go deep into meditation. 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