Naivete

In most instances, perception matches reality.  Do not be shocked or even surprised when this happens; there is no good reason to be.  You can always dress a skunk up in a tuxedo, bowtie, and stylish fedora and pretend that you have succeeded in fabricating a handsome, plausible fellow out of a miscreant and that all is well, yet indifferent bystanders nonetheless aren’t rigorously challenged to recognize a stinky varmint hiding out beneath your full array of fancy regalia.  And, for better or worse, this fact holds true of most other things in life as well.  What you see is what you usually get.  The sum equals the parts.  Honesty is more transparent than mendacity. Why delude yourself?  Why should you expect otherwise?