Sincerity is the luxury allowed, like diadems and authority, only to the highest rank. Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person, hypocrisy begins.

Summary

This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests that true sincerity is a luxury only reserved for those of high status or rank. Emerson argues that every individual is sincere when alone, but when in the presence of others, people tend to put on a facade of hypocrisy. He implies that societal conventions often lead individuals to behave in insincere ways, presenting a different version of themselves to others. Emerson highlights how sincerity becomes a more elusive quality when one has to navigate relationships and social interactions.