2007-08-01 10:30:58 · 18 answers · asked by Zelda Hunter 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Real modesty doesn't advertise itself as such...to simper, to feign helplessness, to say things like "I'd never put myself forward..." is a kind of modesty parade, perhaps arrogance - expecting others to make way for you, to pity you, to notice you for how marvelously passive-sweet you are...and to overlook your opting out of expressing opinions or stepping forward to lend a hand or stand up for something or someone. In literature, Uriah Heep was this kind of modest. "Far be it from me..." he would say, and then plot his advancement with a fawning gesture towards power. Real modesty doesn't come up on anyone's screen...the unassuming kindness which seeks no audience is the real modesty, and if you can ask about "too much modesty", someone is grandstanding for you!
2007-08-01 10:39:46 · answer #1 · answered by constantreader 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I can't accept the concept of "too much" modesty. Modesty is rather simple, actually. Absence of assertiveness, lack of vanity or presumption. To consider it anything close to arrogance, one would have to assume it was feigned, & if so, "feigned" modesty isn't modesty at all. Modesty isn't a "form" of anything. It's what it IS. Self deprecation can be a sign of low self esteem. Also, never confuse humility with modesty. Humility is a synonym, but has a difference in that the word has more & more acquired an air of sanctimonious piety when used of oneself. Modesty does NOT "fawn" for compliments or praise, nor does it "seek" to be noticed. Quite the contrary.
2007-08-03 00:12:35 · answer #2 · answered by Psychic Cat 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't know about arrogance, but it seems to me excessive modesty is paradoxically a form of hubris, self-centredness - and lack of both self-confidence and confidence in others. We're (largely) just hairless animals. So we have the beauty of any animal form, of whatever age. And whatever else we have is only human. I've painted young and very old sagging bodies and found them all lovely in their own way. What is there to get up tight about? That's why I find the Islamic hijab etc so ridiculous - do the women really believe they are so irresistible that any exposure will immediately inflame men -- or that they are so ugly nobody could bear to look upon them - or that men are such savages they are all potential rapists easily inflamed -- or do they presume that they are the possession of the men who "own" them, and therefor must not expose themselves to temptation, nor tempt all those lascivious men. I believe in being open, in every way - let the world know where you stand, and who you are - gracefulness is more than modesty false or not. And clothes are for keeping warm, or the protection we lost with our hair.
2007-08-02 00:50:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
when someone comes across as an ACTOR their modesty it is easy to distinguish as arrogance.
I was faced with this question the other day when i had to hand in a visual project in front of a few classmates and i knew i had done well, and knew someone would probably say something. i get bashful when people compliment me, because i don't want them to feel bad about the work they did, so i tried to play it off as not a big deal. I didn't want to come off as arrogant but didn't want to appear falsely modest either. I was proud of the work i did but didn't want to brag about it. So its a tricky position.
2007-08-01 18:25:02 · answer #4 · answered by maba 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps. But then again too much modesty can be a form of low self-esteem. Too much sarcasm can be a form of arrogance.
2007-08-01 19:18:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The true People-Person should recognize the moment where too much modesty is affecting his/her relationship with other people. The person that is overly modest should have the sense that they are affecting their relationship with other people, and therefore possibly being arrogant.
2007-08-01 18:18:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no such thing as too much modesty, maybe false modesty...a lion wearing a sheeps wool.
=)))))))))))))))))))))))
Modesty can sure be used as a bait for compliments and praise, but only the proud would have the intention to do so. True modesty is close to unconditional love, both are selfless-
one towards others, modesty on oneself. Modesty doesnt find pleasure in feeling small, it finds peace with greatness in all small things that would seem trivial to the proud.
2007-08-01 21:15:14 · answer #7 · answered by enki 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It is. All 'acts' of virtue are self centered. Outward humility is intended to build perception in the same way outward charity is. The purpose is to position the actor into a status of authority or control so they can get what they want. If you think that I am more 'pure' than you then you may give me what I want in exchange for the secret or just the 'grace' of associating with me. That is the arrogance.
2007-08-01 18:03:45 · answer #8 · answered by @@@@@@@@ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is one of a set of twins in Vanity's own little unclean litter of snarling puppies, for too much modesty had as surely be as disarming to the carrier of it as too little of same.
You speak of imbalance here; in that wise, Vanity is that way: to think too little of oneself yields the same though reciprocal -- defeat, which yield esteems merit in the surplus or deficit in things, not the balance.
2007-08-01 17:55:48 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people are not modest; they fake modesty to show it off. I am not sure if that makes sense, though.
2007-08-01 17:40:48 · answer #10 · answered by Venom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋