Boasting

Boasting is the making of false claims in praise ofone’s own qualities or prowess; it is an attempt to liftoneself above what one really is. Boasting amounts to excessive andunjustified claims; and these, in turn, amount to lying. Hence,boasting has the evil of lying.

Boasting usually amounts to a jocose lie. It is so inthe case of a man who ‘likes to hear himself talk,” andwho delights in bragging for its own sake. Or it may be anofficious lie, as it is in a person who recommends himself for aposition by making excessive claims of ability. In most cases,boasting does not exceed venial sin.