Explore the World's Best Ideas
Join today and uncover 100+ curated journeys from 50+ topics. Unlock access to our mobile app with extensive features.
The Hypocrisy We Pretend Not to See
I currently find myself having time—perhaps more than most—to consume endless perspectives on reality. Luckily, my disease isn’t mortal. Eventually these treatments will be less confining, maintained via shots at home. Still, it reminds me how precious a healthy life is. I can’t help but want to remind others.
Alas, as I sit receiving treatment, held hostage in a chair I’ve affectionately named The Throne of New Perceptions, I watch the world around me “scream” about everything it can’t stand in others… while doing exactly the same thing itself.
The hypocrisy is both suffocating and hilarious.
5
72 reads
It’s Human Nature.
We live in an era of selective accountability, where rules are only inconvenient when they apply to us. Everyone wants justice—until it’s their friend in the wrong. Everyone wants free speech—until someone says something they don’t like. Everyone demands integrity—until they have to take the fall.
The worst part? Most of this isn’t even malicious. It’s just human nature.
3
57 reads
Why Do We Do This?
The reason hypocrisy thrives isn’t always because people are dishonest—it’s because people are blind. We judge ourselves by our intentions, but we judge others by their actions. If we cut someone off in traffic, we were in a rush. If someone else does it, they’re a reckless jerk. If we break a rule, it was a mistake. If they do it, they should have known better.
The result? A world full of people convinced they’re always on the right side of every debate, every rule, every expectation.
4
50 reads
The Comfort of Hypocrisy
Rules-for-thee-but-not-for-me thinking isn’t just about personal hypocrisy—it’s also about power. The most effective way to control others is to enforce rules on them while excusing yourself.
We see this in politics, corporations, media, and even personal relationships:
• Leaders preach sacrifice while living in luxury.
• Influencers sell “authenticity” while curating every moment.
• Friends demand loyalty but break trust the second it’s convenient.
Hypocrisy isn’t just an accident—it’s a tool.
4
50 reads
What’s the Fix?
Recognizing this pattern is the first step. If you’re constantly frustrated by other people’s hypocrisy, ask yourself:
• Have I ever done something similar but justified it differently?
• Am I holding myself to the same standard I demand from others?
• Do I allow myself to have excuses but expect others to have discipline?
No one escapes this completely, but the more we see it in ourselves, the less power it has over us. And maybe, just maybe, the world will be slightly less ridiculous.
6
44 reads
IDEAS CURATED BY
Philosophy. Psychology. Theology. Art(s). Society. History. Archeology. Anthropology. Cosmology. Learning. And, of course, coffee.
CURATOR'S NOTE
Life is too short to live in self-deception, blind to our own contradictions while criticizing everyone else. I’ve seen firsthand how easily people justify their own actions while condemning the same behavior in others. This isn’t just frustrating—it’s a trap that keeps us from growth, accountability, and real integrity. My experiences have forced me to slow down, observe, and recognize how precious time and truth really are. If we want a better world, we have to start by being honest with ourselves first.
“
Similar ideas
3 ideas
Beyond the Inbox: Rules for Reducing Email
calnewport.com
3 ideas
Read & Learn
20x Faster
without
deepstash
with
deepstash
with
deepstash
Personalized microlearning
—
100+ Learning Journeys
—
Access to 200,000+ ideas
—
Access to the mobile app
—
Unlimited idea saving
—
—
Unlimited history
—
—
Unlimited listening to ideas
—
—
Downloading & offline access
—
—
Supercharge your mind with one idea per day
Enter your email and spend 1 minute every day to learn something new.
I agree to receive email updates