In "Blue Labyrinth" by Douglas Preston, the character Pendergast engages in a moment of reflection that highlights a complex moral perspective. He weighs the two extremes of human experience—hypocrisy and poverty—ultimately expressing a preference for one over the other. This statement captures Pendergast's nuanced understanding of societal values and the human condition, suggesting that he would rather exist within a framework of pretense than face the harsh realities of lack and...