This quote suggests that life is essentially an act of self-deception, and to thrive, one must continuously and habitually engage in this act. Here, deception doesn’t carry its usual negative connotation of dishonesty or trickery. Instead, it refers to the human ability to create our own realities or narratives about the world and our lives, often to make them more bearable or meaningful. In other words, we often deceive ourselves into believing things are better than they are, or that we’re better than we are, as a way to cope with life’s harsh realities.

The notion of such deception being ‘habitual and uninterrupted’ implies the constant and consistent nature of this self-deception. It’s not a one-time act but a continuous process that we engage in throughout our lives. This might be because reality is often difficult and challenging, and to navigate it, we need to create narratives that allow us to make sense of our experiences and give us the strength to keep going.

Applying this in today’s world, we can see examples of this self-deception in various aspects of life. For instance, in personal development, people often set lofty goals for themselves and believe they can achieve them, even when the odds are stacked against them. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This form of self-deception can actually be beneficial, as it fosters optimism and resilience, and motivates individuals to strive harder.

In the broader societal context, we often buy into narratives that make us feel better about our societies and our roles within them. For example, the idea of the ‘American Dream’ is a form of collective self-deception, where people believe that anyone can achieve success through hard work, despite the structural inequalities that might limit their opportunities.

In essence, self-deception, as articulated in this quote, is about creating narratives that enable us to cope with, navigate, and find purpose in life. It’s about the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the world and our place in it.