No cause more frequently produces bashfulness than too high an opinion of our own importance. He that imagines an assembly filled with his merit, panting with expectation, and hushed with attention, easily terrifies himself with the dread of disappointing them, and strains his imagination in pursuit of something that may vindicate the veracity of fame, and show that his reputation was not gained by chance.
Interpretation
Having a high opinion of oneself can lead to feelings of bashfulness and pressure to perform.
This quote reflects on the nature of self-perception and the burden that comes with pride. Samuel Johnson suggests that when individuals hold an inflated view of their own importance, they may create anxiety around others’ expectations of them. This self-imposed pressure can lead to self-doubt, as they fear they may not live up to the reputation they believe they have earned. Ultimately, the quote illustrates the paradox that our self-esteem can hinder our ability to engage confidently with others.
In practice
In a speech about overcoming personal challenges, one might include this quote to highlight the dangers of excessive self-importance.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it's bottomless.
The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.
I worked for Harper’s Bazaar. They fired me. I recommend that you all get fired; it’s a great learning experience.
Silence has many advantages…I write and draw in my notebook and I read anything I please.
From the body of the unborn essence arises the sphere of light, and from that sphere of light arises wisdom. From the wisdom arises the seed syllable and from the seed syllable arises the complete Mandala, the deity and the retinue.
Run my dear,_x000D_ From anything_x000D_ That may not strengthen_x000D_ Your precious budding wings.
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