When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious.

When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I was an idler.

When I pretended I couldn't write a novel, people said I couldn't write.

When I acted like a liar, they called me a liar.

When I acted like a rich man, they started the rumor I was rich.

When I feigned indifference, they classed me as the indifferent type.

But when I inadvertently groaned because I was really in pain, they started the rumor that I was faking suffering. The world is out of joint.

© Dazai Osamu, The Setting Sun