Your Opinion on: Vanity by Paulo Coelho

[danceswithcrayons]

It's touching to realize that your being here has mattered to others. Precious. Thinking of a song today about what really matters... is the love we share (d). I agree. Every person has a unique way of expressing and is a gift. I did not really celebrate as wholly or equally as others, without a huge sting waiting in the background (then realized how I continued on bowing, giving life to old voices). Vanity as a breath. To enjoy living and loving while here.

[65markarsenal]

wow!! I have found a website to download all the series of novel for free..try this digibooks4u[DOTT]info

[ggblue35]

THE GOOD SIDE OF VANITY. Vanity helps me except my place in life. As a child i would often get the feeling like i am missing out on something..but the something i was searching for turned out to be nothing..nothing but emptiness. The truth that everything is vanity helps one cope with limitations and unfulfilled expectations. we can start to see beyond this world. The things of this world are meant to be enjoyed as gifts from G-d but the meaning of life is beyond the physical realm we live in.

[danceswithcrayons]

Something happens from the outside, so that we can look at ourselves..what ever catches my eye, is the lesson. Next, comes personal accountability - how does this apply to making my life better? Trying to change others is futile. But when I am joyful, others are curious as to why and how that happened. Gosh, I am walking food, not good for some, but perhaps, for some one : )

[bailyshouse]

I compare vanity with a good bottle of red wine. A few sips, even one glass are considered good for ones health. But when we want the whole bottle then we're asking for trouble. So sipp slowly I say...

[motheoracle]

I have found vanity to be the line of least resistance. My work as an artist to be treated as a frivolous pleasure, once snubbed that it was the work of the leisurely.

I remember when I incorporated vanity my work ethic, I created the mantra "Attack Their Vanity" for clients who needed merit as a connoisseur, so they might feel their purchase was a reflection of them. They wanted to believe their existence was not futile. To approach their vanity first, an agreement came much quicker.

[PhilipV21]

Vanity is only bad, and I think you are wrong to say that it can push a person to become better. Maybe what you meant was confidence in oneself. But not vanity. Vanity I think destroys someone because it is like a disease of the soul, it is a poison... Makes the person look away from true and good things of life and instead focuses on themselves in an ill way. Thanks for the questions, by the way, they are good food for thought. Greetings from Athens, Greece!

[yannis5]

it would be good to live in a society with vanity, but it exists everywhere and at times i think one can use vanity to play societies game to get further along..

remind me Paulo, why it is you wear just simple, elegant black clothes?

[smuudo777]

I think, it does make us better people for we strive to be different from others, but in a good way.. We all do this, otherwise we would get bored. A quote goes: "If we both agreed on everything then only one of us is neccessary." Same way, vanity has a bad ring to it but at the same time it makes us want to be better, faster, smarter and so on, even from ourselves.. Vanity is also me posting this comment here.. Indeed, it is a driving force of life.. Neccessary to get things done.

[psychocloud]

Vanity should be sought moderately. Allowing vanity to consume one's life can disturb one's social and professional life greatly.

[agg188]

Vanity is a double edged sword. It can give you an edge over others by making you more aesthetically pleasing which in nature is more attractive and wanted. But it can drive one mad and too much vanity can destroy a person. Like all things vanity is good to a certain degree. It must be balanced with humility.

[8Mosadogg8]

Vanity is giving your powers to others by letting/saying their stand matters much,trying to impress/please them. For example are good looks very personal, sense of beauty differs from one individual to other. There are some standards that have developed through the ages but they again can be questioned as there always have been people that do not follow the social norm.

[silviafarfallina]

It depends on the idea you have on vanity i suppose. if what you think is perfection is being a supermodel, then youll try your hardest to be that supermodel. if your idea of perfection is albert einstein, then youll do science experiments until your hands bleed.

[jagrankiran]

Oh vanity. such grace in my face. not arrogant lips spreading feverish tales. oh no. my shame does not surpass a wounded ego. for a light shines. a beacon within. vanity do you say? let me begin with love. and if to flow over into the world. be seen as sin. then I shall sin and not be ashamed. for this Vanity is a holy fire purifying my soul. joyous rapture to you oh vanity. blessed am I who basks in your lurid glow.

[mayachristou]

I can be quite vain. I look in the mirror and try to make myself prettier and try and critisize myself on the bad things but when i see people do the same it humbles me and makes me feel like i can see what people are thinking when they look at themselves.

Plus i find that when someone looks at themselves and is happy with what they see it reminds me there are people who feel good about theyre appearance i find it generally attractive. Too much of anything is bad though.

[JAVIERVALEROPEREZV]

The good side of vanity... when you break free from it.

A wise man said: "everything is just one thing". Salomon put it: "there's nothing new under the sun".

Vanity is nothing but doing things in order to look better; putting your happiness in other people's opinion; "chasing the wind".

[mofisu]

vanity,,,,,,,,

i think its some thing normal in my opinion,,,,,

most people use it,,,,in there jobs ,,in house,,in there relationship,,,i mean each one in his opinion see him/her self that he/she very important and that is level of vanity ,,,,

but,i think its bad if it not on it place,,,,,

thank u,,,,

Mohammad Alsubie

[edric]

Absolutely, Vanity is bad.....

[maghy3431]

Por que a vaidade é o pecado mais famoso? Vanity should be defined as the reflect of the way I think is the beauty.

Muito obrigado Mr. Coelho por todas as inspirações da alma que tem sido incorporada nas folhas eternas

[1TAREK1]

Vanity or pride is known as one of the seven deadly sins, and it can be destructive, when a person is so self absorbed, forgetting about everything else,like he/she is the center of the universe, and better than other people,expecting only the best things . but as you said it can sometimes be positive; as a new graduate i push my self to the limits at work, and plan some goals to my life like pursuing higher education, to follow my ambition and a little bit to satisfy my Vanity.

[1TAREK1]

Hello Mr. Paulo,

Greetings From Bethlehem, Palestine.

First, i want to say that you have a lot of fans here, thank you, and keep up the good work!

[hmusad]

As a recovering alcoholic, we are taught two things which sound paradoxical, but like much of this thing called vanity, are true, at least in my experience. The first is that the root of our problem is selfishness and self-centeredness; that self-will run riot is to blame. The second, and herein lies the paradox, is that to to thine own self be true. I believe that both are true. Knowing ones' self is key to understanding vanity in our self and other. Just my opinion.

[vercatriz]

¿Soy vanidosa?, Si por vanidad quiero decir que me gusta cómo soy, que me gusta atraer la atención con mi manera de ser, y si a través de esa vanidad continuo intentando hacer de mi vida algo bello, entonces lo soy. Jamás me enorgullecería de cosas materiales, quiero lograrlas, pero no las usaría para sentirme mejor, simplemente serían para mi disfrute. Pero es hipócrita no admitir que a todos nos gusta gustar, y gustarnos.Porque todo lo hermoso se magnifica cuando se comparte.

[Esilena823]

La Vanidad...creo que muy dentro de nosotros mismos todos somos vanidosos y es la sola HUMILDAD la que nos hace ser menos o mas que otros. El vanidoso es aquella persona que siente tener una razón mas fuerte para hacer y decir lo que realmente piensa de él ante las otras personas. Perciben un orgullo sobrevalorado ante la vida misma, ante las cosas ajenas y muchas veces con un sentido bastante irracional y decadente. Gracias!!! Att: Ane

[TGU1981]

Creo en primer lugar que la vanidad no tiene nada que ver con la autoestima, se parecen pero hay una delgada línea que los separa. Pienso que la vanidad forma parte de la gran lista de imperfecciones humanas, sólo que éstas existen para tener un proceso de madurez y convertirnos en mejores personas, y al final alcanzar la eprfección.

[annejourney]

Vanity is part of our being. if good or bad (thats already a judgement) just depends on the perspective of others. In my experience, without it, i would never find the freedom in being me. and being me allows to push myself forward, exploring what around us. or more provocative - vanity is what others might see, but thats an judgment based on their own experience.

[LoreleiGrey]

I agree with frenzyhunter...

Vanity should push the people, and not destroy them!

But noone should reduce himself or the others only by their exterior! That´s what happens very often nowadays - if you aren´t slim, blonde and tall, you can´t reach anything in life - but that´s such a lie!

And so the (too often teenage) girls and women do everything to look like a barbie, and destroy themselves and their personality by doing that.

Vanity isn´s something bad, as long as you can control it!

[lagauda]

Vanity is not bad, it's one of the level of the human entity that happens sometimes, we shouldn't setback it, we should consistency with it and find out where is come from, then we can live without it, In fact we should compromise ourselves to the dark sides of our entity...

[frenzyhunter]

Vanity is one of those things, like religion, is not bad unless it harms someone else.

Vanity is called excessive pride, but what if one's vanity is not publicized? What limits can one set on how proud one is of self? And how can one not be proud of self, if one does well by one's own merits?

Maybe vanity can be defined as a trait of the irritatingly proud.

[beverleymckenzie]

Sometimes it is difficult to separate vanity from ego. Vanity can push us to become the best person we could hope to be, the best artist, the best doctor, or simply as you say the best human being. When vanity is concerned only with the external appearance of a person, then it can run away with us and control and dominate us rather than support and guide us.

[aleyson]

I agree that vanity can destroy a person. But it is quite rare that it will push a person. I consider myself to be vain a bit, but I guess the experience I had with vanity making me push myself is to gain self advancement in my career...

[THEMARGAY2]

Vanité = Caractère de ce qui est vain, vide, sans solidité et sans durée. Je pense que la signification même de ce mot nous apporte la réponse à la question posée. Bonne journée

[aneanli3]

One could ask one self the difference between vanity and selfawarness concerning appearance. As all things in life, vanity has got a good and a bad perspective. Though if a person has to choose between meeting something ugly och something beautiful - the choise is easy... If vanity means something beautiful?

[almallegra]

I don't think to be vane is a sin or a crime or destructive per say. That is...unless you allow it to be so. Vanity is a necessity. Yet too much of it can destroy a persons potential. It's like everything...anything in moderation is ok. Anything in abudance is destructive.

[omarto1973]

vanity, vanidad, comes from the word "vane" , void. empty. so yes, its something negative. a person could be better because of that? yes, he could. but also could improve because of revenge. so the improvement its thanks him, not to vanity.

greetings

[sarahlee0904]

The only person that matters is God, If you've been blinded by trival matters, look around and see whats happeining in the world. You all must come back to the church.

[arieloflight]

Vanity is an unnecesary load imposed by the ego and the environment. It's a very shiny armor that hipnotize our eyes and restrain our real essence. The good combat is the one we fight against vanity to release the real truth within us, the one that we see when we face real dangers to our existence and at that time we realize what is important... never seen vanity in a batlefield but have seen a lot in the peaceful mall... we are born into vanity and we have to defeat it to free our real self.

[steadyeye]

Sometimes I need vanity to set myself free from other´s opinion on how I should act or behave. I believe in the middle point of things, not to be in the extremes.

[omarto1973]

think that's not vanity but respect to yourself. we must do what we think is right, not what majority says. :)

[steadyeye]

Agreed. Thanks for replying.

[Acidecritics]

I remember that awesome final scene from the movie "The Devil's Advocate" where Al Pacino as the devil himself quotes "VANITY, THAT'S MY FAVOURITE SIN".

[blubomber111]

The key term is "moderation". As RudyDestine pointed out, self-awareness is good. Vanity takes things to a different level, one of external focus. Not so great, methinks.

[RudyDestine]

i personally think all vanity is bad. however, self awareness of one's appearance is good. i myself have one day, ever so often that i think, he i look sharp today and that does make a big difference on how i feel that day.

[aira9art]

the good side of vanity has nourished humanity throughout the centuries through art music law so called order (if I make any sense 2 you :-) this is the good side

[falujah]

It's all about balance :) In agreement with what J5W wrote, too much of anything and it turns into poison.

[J5W]

I think it simply depends on ones self-esteem level. If you got it low, vanity can be good. If you got it high, it can be bad. It is like medicine for a sickness. Too much of it can be bad. Kind of illustrates gluttony in a way.