We pride ourselves on honesty
Neither liars nor thieves are we.
We only care for worthy causes
Which speak to our nobility.

The truth is all that matters
Nodding thoughtfully we say.
But what about the fool within
With whom we're lying every day.

So subtle is this inner fool
To lead us where it will.
Believing always what we wish
No gap too great to fill.

We're fine and good and honest
We believe the things we say
Our inner fool adeptly makes
The contradictions go away.

There are no flaws in our beliefs
Too great to thwart the fool.
He'll iron out the wrinkles
Rationalizations are his tool.

When our real motives leave us cold
The inner fool will ply his trade
And he'll swear to us we're fine
With brand new motives that he made.

When what we want is selfish
And our conscience can't agree
The inner fool just tells some lies
To set our conscience free.

Belief comes to us easily
And beliefs need not be true
But the inner fool can swear they are
With just a fib or two.

And so we manage blissfully
So honest and so right
Our inner fool assures us so
While dancing in delight.

When beliefs we hold are challenged
To their rescue he will go
But his reassuring whispers
Are not proof that it is so.

He's great to stroke your ego
But when finding truth's your end.
You must ignore his counsel
For the fool is not your friend.