15. Modesty
The Lines Bottom.
[6] If a man is faced by a difficult and complicated task,
his work is made easier if he can do it without interference, and that is made
possible by not having a lot of announcements and fanfare beforehand. Stirring
up a lot of attention enables some people to think of all kinds of objections
and reasons why it should not be done, whereas going ahead, doing it, and
getting it over with avoids all those who think it their duty to oppose
anything new.
2. [6] A modest frame of mind cannot but manifest itself in
modest behavior, and this attracts good fortune to a man because it does not
arouse opposition and negative feelings in those around him. Inferior people
resent others who makes a show of their accomplishments, and do everything they
can to defeat those they envy. But a modest man does not awaken such
negativity, and this allows good fortune to come his way. He is able to exert
great influence upon those who benefit directly from his actions, and those who
are merely observers and could only offer interference have their attention
focused elsewhere.
3. [9] Distinguished actions bring with them a distinguished
reputation, but therein lies a danger. If a man takes himself too seriously, if
he is too concern with his reputation and his legacy, he becomes self-centered,
and that can interfere with the work he is trying to accomplish. He stops thinking
about the necessities of the work, and replaces that with thoughts of the
necessities for his reputation. But if he focuses on the work he must do and
remains modest, his attention remains where it should. By remaining modest, he
wins the approval of those who can help him in his work. He is able to
concentrate on the contribution, rather than the contributor, and this enables
him to bring his contribution to a commendable completion.
4. [6] A modest man is able to share the limelight with his
subordinates, and does not try to hog it all for himself. If he provides
recognition for those working with him, he gains respect for himself, because
that is taken as evidence that he is not just a self-promoter. The inferior
person cannot do this. He thinks only of how he can garner recognition and
acclaim to himself, will try to deceive others regarding his own merit, and
will often take credit for something when it rightly belongs to someone else.
And there are also those inferior men who avoid recognition for themselves or
anyone else connected with them, mainly because they have done nothing and fear
the fact becoming known or having their true merit scrutinized. But the
superior man who is modest is neither modest to a fault, nor does he conceal
the recognition due his associates. He carries out his responsibilities with
care and balance.
5. [6] If a man is modest, this does not mean that he is
weak and ineffectual. It does not mean that he will not take stern measures
when these are called for, nor does it mean that he hesitates and holds back
from taking charge when action is required. When he is called upon to act, he
does so not from a position of personal authority, but from his being the
person responsible for the position that he holds in the community. It is not a
matter of some exalted idea he has of himself, but simply a matter of doing his
duty with fairness and objectivity. Even if harsh measures are necessary, he
carries them out with resolution and dispatch, but not as an egotistical
assault.
Top. [6] When a person is attacked for failings or
weaknesses, he sometimes thinks he is being modest by not coming to his own
defense. But this is misplaced modesty. Or he may try to escape blame by
blaming someone else, which is weakness and cowardice. Again, he may back down
under pressure and withdraw, saying to himself that he is being guided by
modesty. But that is self-deception. The superior man exercises modesty by
facing a situation directly, boldly, and fearlessly, carefully examining
himself and his subordinates for any faults. His modesty expresses itself in
his willingness to be perfectly open regarding any mistakes he may have made
and not pretending he is so superior that it cannot be he that is at fault, and
thus blame must be placed elsewhere. In this way, modesty includes both
strength and courage.
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