ABSTRACT
Man is a vain animal; he feels contented only if admired and adored. Although he is rather stupid, he does realize that his success in improving this world has not been very great. This knowledge interferes with his ego worship. Language offers him an excellent opportunity to compensate, for black can be called white; dirtiness, cleanliness; vice, virtue. It is much easier to live a contented existence in a fool's paradise than in a realist's hell.
