Now longer ‘esse quam videri’
but rather the other way around
Of ancient wisdom we have grown weary
not letting others’ insight confound
These days largely perception
now ‘seem’ equals ‘to be’, truly!
Keeping up the deception
displaying presumption coolly
Be a showoff and act headstrong
and they may not suspect you’re wrong!
+)
-esse quam videri = ‘to be, rather than to seem (to be)’