The Rhetoric of the Illusions

Bierce is right to tone down the rhetoric of the illusions that are bestowed on us with ritual greetings or that are the seasoning of politics, advertising and even sometimes of a certain religiosity that is only consolatory, sentimental, curative.

The famous Greek orator Demosthenes (4th century BC) warned: "Nothing is easier than deluding yourself. Because man believes what he desires to be true".

So let's go down to the stony ground of life and proceed with a less dreamy gaze and with more realistic projects.