Bit by Bit - Chapter 4, Part 14

Trey Smith

"I want to tell you something else I have learned. In all human relations, if the two parties are living close to each other, they may form a bond through personal trust. But if they are far apart, they must use words to communicate their loyalty, and words must be transmitted by someone. To transmit words that are either pleasing to both parties or infuriating to both parties is one of the most difficult things in the world. Where both parties are pleased, there must be some exaggeration of the good points; and where both parties are angered, there must be some exaggeration of the bad points. Anything that smacks of exaggeration is irresponsible. Where there is irresponsibility, no one will trust what is said, and when that happens, the man who is transmitting the words will be in danger. Therefore the aphorism says, `Transmit the established facts; do not transmit words of exaggeration.' If you do that, you will probably come out all right.
~ Burton Watson translation ~

It's difficult not to exaggerate. (Is that an exaggeration?) Each of us wants to accentuate the good in ourselves and minimize the bad. Too often, this concurrently means to accentuate the bad in others, while minimizing the good!

The ego wants to be seen -- both by others AND ourselves -- as numero uno. When the particulars of a given situation don't net that result, we fudge and/or embellish in one direction or the other.

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