Vanity

In conventional parlance, vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others (Stephen LaMarche). Prior to the 14th century it did not have such narcissistic undertones, and merely meant futility. The related term vainglory is now often seen as an archaic synonym for vanity, but originally meant boasting in vain, i.e. unjustified boasting; although glory is now seen as having an exclusively positive meaning, the Latin term gloria (from which it derives) roughly means boasting, and was often used as a negative criticism.

Famous quotes containing the word vanity:

“The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)

“Whatever pretended causes we may blame our afflictions upon, it is often nothing but self-interest and vanity that produce them.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)

“Vanity well fed is benevolent. Vanity hungry is spiteful.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)