admiration
Admiration is the grand ritual of applauding another's glory while masking one's own inadequacy. Uttered as a lofty virtue, it secretly cultivates envy behind polite smiles, a socially sanctioned contradiction. Far from measuring true merit, it serves as a mirror that reflects vain embellishments. Admiration is, in essence, the currency of a marketplace where dignity is traded according to the volume of applause.