Don't Fool Yourself

I've been studying for a long time...the thoughtless things people say...that do not promote good communication. I know
someone who has the unfortunate habit...of often prefacing whatever else she is going to say...with the phrase..."Don't fool
yourself". Knowing her...I'm sure an intent to injure does not lie behind these words...but this phrase still qualifies as one of those counter-productive things people habitually say...not realizing the negative impact their little chestnut may have on others. You don't have to be a master of the English language or paranoid...to see that the phrase "Don't fool yourself"...
suggests strongly...that that's what the person being spoken to...or should I say "at"...has been doing...i.e.living life
dedicated to "fooling" him or her self. In addition to inferring that the "self fooler" is stupid...this misguided phrase suggests
that the dumbo in question...is about to receive a "bolt of illumination"...from the generous knower of what mere fools don't
know. All in all...this is one of the disastrous sets of words...that people have been known to say to others. The world would
be a better place without this phrase..."Don't fool yourself!"......................Quester.