A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, thus he ends up losing respect for himself and for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love, and, in order to distract himself, he yields to his compulsions, indulges in the lowest form of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal to satisfy his vices. And it all comes from lying — to others and to yourself. Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov