“The instinct of self-deception in human beings makes them try to banish from their minds dangers of which at the bottom they are perfectly aware by declaring them nonexistent, and a warning such as mine against cheap optimism was bound to prove particularly unwelcome at a moment when a sumptuously laid supper was awaiting for us in the next room.” HumanityHuman BeingsAwarenessDangerFoodOptimismInstinctAbundanceWarningCowardiceSelf DeceptionSupperAwareUnwelcomeDangersAwaitingBanishNonexistentCheap Optimism Book:Beware of Pity Source: Beware of Pity