Your Opinion on: Vanity by Paulo Coelho

Is Vanity something bad?
I've finished publishing the first 12th chapters of my new book The Winner Stands Alone (I published nearly 1/10 of the book on line). The final chapter - on line - is about vamity. King Solomon starts the Ecclesiastes saying : "Vanity of vanities. All is vanity". Somehow vanity can destroy a person but can also puch a person to become a better human being.
So nothing is absolute and I would like to hear your opinion on that. Mostly about your experiences with the good side of vanity.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Paulo
• Coelho
• Winner
• Stands
• Alone
• Vanity
• Solomon
• Ecclesiastes
• Opinion
• Experiences

[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...

[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.

[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]

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[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 : )

[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.