In case you folks hadn't noticed already, humility is not one of my top virtues. Mind you, I appreciate it very much in others, and I wish I could embody it. But I am coming to think I am just not wired for it. I have a theory about why. I think it has to do with my innate propensity for honesty (which translates into honest evaluation of myself and others). If somebody asked me how good I am at sport X, I would simply say I am bad at sports in general. This one isn’t particular. What about maths? Not my strength at all. Am I being humble? Nope. Just honest. If someone asked me a question about something I know a fair amount about, but I am not confident enough, I'll qualify my opinion. Again, not being humble. Just honest. But in the same vein, when something happens to be in an area I have researched to death or when I believe I am right about something or my intuition strongly prompts me a particular way or I smell bullshit, I won't mince it. I will come across as arrogant maybe. But all I am is honest and earnest! Trouble is more people in the world admire humility (because it makes them feel better about themselves) than honesty (because it can be threatening to insecure people or bullshitters or the like). I am not saying humble people are dishonest—absolutely not. If they were, I wouldn't appreciate the quality myself. Though I make a distinction between the real humility and fake one. Like in all things. The really humble, as the saying goes, are actually great ;)

What I really love about genuine humility and what I wish I could cultivate more of is the detachment that comes with it. One is not attached to an estimation of oneself, estimation of others, estimation of one's knowledge or anybody else's or anything. There is an openness to judgment without judging anyone rigidly... I suppose it's very different from my strong attachment. There is a letting-go-ness to humility which I wish I had because attachment is pretty exhausting... But maybe there is something to be said for honesty, attachment, loyalty, and so forth too, even if it neither wins you popularity nor makes life easy.