Histrionic illusion is as complete as any artistic variety can venture to be.[108] I have said that our insights are limited by our own mental experience, and so by introspection.

In truth, every interpretation of another's look and word is determined ultimately, not by what we have previously observed in others, but by what we have personally felt, or at least have in a sense made our own by intense sympathy.

Hence we may, in general, regard an illusion of insight on the active side as a hasty projection of our own feelings, thoughts, etc., into other minds.
We habitually approach others with a predisposition to attribute to them our own modes of thinking and feeling.

And this predisposition will be the more powerful, the more desirous we are for sympathy, and for that confirmation of our own views which the reflection of another mind affords.

Thus, when making a new acquaintance, people are in general disposed to project too much of themselves into the person who is the object of inspection.