January 22, 2025

The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you’ve got it made.

Jean Giraudoux (1882-1944), French playwright, quoted in Murphy’s Law Book Two, by A. Bloch (1980) in The Cynic’s Lexicon, Jonathon Green, ed. (London: 1986), p.85

Are you capable of sincere sincerity? How frequently, compared to the alternate variety?

True, the ability to appear sincere at all times is an advantage for any politician, but an impossibility as well. The most aggravating constituent wants your full attention, and if they don’t get it (even if only in appearance), they will fault you no end.