Complimentary Folly

Painfully self-aware people cringe every time they receive a compliment. A simple, “You look lovely today,” sends them into a convulsion of excuses as they trip over their tongues in an effort to assure themselves and the world that they actually aren’t lovely at all, that they definitely do not think of themselves as lovely, and that they are forever indebted to the magnanimity of those who would sacrifice the truth for the sake of giving a compliment. Meanwhile, the person offering the compliment is left scratching his head in bewilderment at such an extravagant response to a friendly observation.