Tag: sincerity

How would you describe sincerity?

• How about honesty of mind or freedom from hypocrisy?
• Would you agree a person who exhibits sincerity is honest,  pure, and true?

How would you describe insincerity?

• How about phoney or hypocritical?
• Would you use the word Pecksniffian?

Seth Pecksniff, a character with a holier-than-thou attitude in Charles Dickens’s 1844 novel Martin Chuzzlewit, was no angel, though he certainly tried to pass himself off as one. Pecksniff liked to preach morality and brag about his own virtue, but in reality he was a deceptive rascal who would use any means to advance his own selfish interests. It didn’t take long for Pecksniff’s reputation for canting sanctimoniousness to leave its mark on English; “Pecksniffian” has been used as a synonym of “hypocritical” since 1849.

What does any of this have to do with a picture of a torn heart shaped leaf and our study of Joel?

Continue reading “SINCERITY”