Vanities

Vanities refers to excessive pride in one's appearance, accomplishments, or possessions. It encompasses feelings of superiority and a strong desire to be admired or envied by others. In a broader context, "vanities" can also refer to things that are empty, futile, or ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

The term has historical and philosophical significance, often appearing in religious and moral contexts to denote the transient and ultimately unimportant nature of worldly pursuits. It is frequently used to critique materialism, self-centeredness, and the pursuit of fleeting pleasures.

The concept of vanities is related to concepts such as:

• Egotism: An inflated sense of self-importance.
• Narcissism: Excessive admiration of oneself.
• Pride: A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that one is widely admired for. While not inherently negative, pride can become vanity when it becomes excessive and leads to arrogance.
• Vainglory: Excessive pride in and boastful expression about one's own accomplishments or qualities.
• Superficiality: Lack of depth of character or understanding.

The opposite of vanities can be described as humility, modesty, and selflessness.