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Hypocrisy is the homage that vice pays to virtue.
— François de la Rochefoucauld • Maxim 128
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
Hypocrisy is described as a kind of tribute. When someone pretends to be virtuous, they show that virtue is respected enough to fake. The line is a paradox: even bad behaviour bows to goodness by wearing its costume.
Context reviewed