People may flatter themselves just as much by thinking that their faults are always present to other people's minds, as if they believe that the world is always contemplating their individual charms and virtues.

Summary

This quote suggests that individuals often have an inflated sense of self-importance and self-consciousness. It highlights the tendency to assume that others constantly think about our faults and flaws, just as we tend to believe that others are always admiring our positive qualities. The idea is that people often delude themselves by thinking that they are the center of everyone's attention, whether it be for their shortcomings or positive attributes, ultimately leading to a skewed perspective of how they are perceived by others.

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