Characters
Self love, the all natural opiate.
— John Milton · The Devil's Advocate
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The speaker describes self-love as a drug, one that is natural rather than manufactured. It soothes, dulls discomfort and feels good, and people can grow dependent on it. The phrasing is wry and cynical, treating vanity as an easy pleasure that numbs a person to doubt.
Context reviewed