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Vanity

Excessive concern for one's own appearance, or importance / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others. Prior to the 14th century, it did not have such narcissistic undertones, and merely meant futility.[2] The related term vainglory is now often seen as an archaic synonym for vanity, but originally meant considering one's own capabilities and that God's help was not needed, i.e. unjustified boasting;[3] although glory is now seen as having a predominantly positive meaning,[citation needed] the Latin term from which it derives, gloria, roughly means boasting, and was often used as a negative criticism.[4]

Alexandre_Cabanel_-_Fallen_Angel.jpg
The Fallen Angel (1847) by Alexandre Cabanel, depicting Lucifer
Adam_Bernaert_-_%22Vanitas%22_Still_Life_-_Walters_37682.jpg
This painting represents the Dutch "Vanitas" (Latin for vanity) by Adam Bernaert,[1] The Walters Art Museum.