[Surprised] Fake It Till You Make It

To be ashamed of what you were about to say, to pretend that something which you had meant seriously was only a joke—this is an ignoble part. But it is better than not to be ashamed at all. And the distinction between pretending you are better than you are and beginning to be better in reality is finer than moral sleuthhounds conceive.

I have often subscribed to the belief that the first step in becoming virtuous is to act virtuous. Until now, I didn't have any explicit confirmation of this belief other than the testimony of two pagans: Aristotle and Garrett May. Those of you who have seen me a lot over the past six months may have noticed my habit of sticking my fingers in my mouth and biting (ala Caleb Winn) when I find the opportunity to speak folly. I have always wanted to believe that withholding those comments was only a step away from not having those thoughts, but I have also encountered the mentality that pretending (and desiring) to be good is a very far cry from actually being good.

With a few simple words, Dr. Lewis has solidly vindicated my belief in the "Fake It Till You Make It" mentality. Naturally, any comments in agreement or dissent are welcome. Oh, and along the lines of "times when I should bite my tongue," I really got a good laugh out of the following Lewis quotation:

It was a matter of taste: I felt the "charm" of goodness as a man feels the charm of a woman he has no intention of marrying. It is, indeed, at that distance that its "charm" is most apparent.