Chapter 20: Self-Delusion

The fool walks in darkness. 1 Since he walks in darkness he deems the bitter to be sweet.

The Evil Impulse is called a craftsman: This is the craft of the yetzer hara, the Evil Impulse: today it says, Do this; tomorrow it says, Do that; finally it says, Go, worship idols. 2 The Evil Impulse's skill lies in its ability to adapt itself to the individual's situation. It appeals to people of stature in their terms, and to the lowly in theirs, rationalizing indulgence in pleasure, arguing its necessity in maintaining physical health, or insisting on attire and a home commensurate with the individual's supposed prestige.

Above all, this yetzer hara gives the individual an exaggerated estimation of his stature, his intellectual capacities, his morality and personal conduct. Our Sages tell us, 3 A man can see all afflictions except his own. Man is oblivious to his own shortcomings; he fails to recognize his personal faults. It happens so often that people who themselves are prey to undesirable moral traits, such as deceit and arrogance, will deprecate their fellows as liars and conceited individuals. These people are not only unaware of their own failings, ignorant of their pride and falseness, they vindicate their actions with all sorts of tortuous reasons.