‘Be what you wish to seem’
Do you know who said this? I can’t find the source of it. It means if you want to appear to be a good runner, BE a good runner. If you want to appear to be fearless, BE fearless.
John Bates
Along similar lines- “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I think it was was said by Mahatma Gandhi.
Vonnegut said “You are what you pretend to be, so be very careful what you pretend to be.”
Or words to that effect. I haven’t read Mother Night since before the Bicentennial.