"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not"

People tend to pretend what they are not because they want to be loved. But we should not deceived other people for what we are not.

This doesn't mean you don't have to change your bad ways because not changing your bad ways is not a good thing to do.

Pretending is different from changing.
Pretending is doing being something that you are not or to act or to give false appearance such as pretending to be good when you are bad

Changing is to become different or to change your attitude, mood, bad habits, things, name, and many more. For example, you were a bad kid but you became a good kid.

All of us can change if we want to and also don't pretend because this can hurt a person's feelings and the only exception to this is when you are in danger or something important.

All of us should be us because there are person who loves us for who we are but sometimes there are exception to this.

So those who are insecure about themselves out there, remember it's better to be true to your self than pretend because think of what will happen if you pretend.