In one of the great cartoon strips of all time, Bill Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes,” Calvin is an articulate, mischievous, and self-centered boy. Hobbes is his stuffed tiger, who in Calvin’s imagination comes to life as his best friend. In one of these cartoons, the two of them are zipping down a hill in a wagon, Calvin seated ahead of Hobbes.
Calvin: I’m sick of hearing about personal responsibility! I’ve already done my part to make the world a better place to live.
Hobbes: Really?
Calvin: Sure! I was born!
Hobbes (Unnoticed by Calvin, rolling his eyes): Oh, yes, I forgot to thank you.
Calvin: Join the club!
Some people believe, like Calvin, that the world was created for them rather than vice versa. They’re the ones whose huge egos outstrip their brains or talent, and who, when their plans crash and burn, always blame others. For examples of this exaggerated sense of one’s own importance, we’ve only to look at many of today’s celebrities and politicians.
Of course, some degree of self-confidence is crucial for success. Despite his impoverished boyhood, poor education, and erratic political career, Abraham Lincoln had faith enough in himself to win the presidency. Booker T. Washington overcame the obstacles of race and a poverty-stricken youth to found Tuskegee Institute and give black communities hundreds of teachers, doctors, and lawyers.
So how do we foster such self-assurance without falling into arrogance?
To answer this, another iconic American has offered some help. In “The Narrative of the Life of David Crockett,” the “king of the wild frontier” begins his autobiography with this advice: “I leave this rule for others when I’m dead, Be always sure you’re right—THEN GO AHEAD!”
That simple motto contains a good deal of wisdom. It advises action yet reminds us to make sure we’re heading down the right path. It’s a yellow flag cautioning us to weigh a task or an enterprise before embarking on it, to take into account variables and hidden dangers in our plan of action. We do our research, listen to the voices of others, particularly those with opinions different from ours, and consider what glitches and traps may await us.
To plunge ahead with our plans, blinkered by hubris and ignorance, can bring disaster. We saw the consequences of this conceit during the COVID-19 pandemic, when officials shuttered shops and closed schools, ostensibly to save lives, but with little regard for the social and economic catastrophes these policies inflicted on untold millions. On a much smaller scale, we sometimes do the same in our personal lives, such as jumping from one employer to another for the sole benefit of higher earnings, only to discover that our ill-considered move has shackled us to a job we despise.
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening my ax.” Abraham Lincoln may never have spoken those words sometimes attributed to him, but they nevertheless contain valuable advice. Yes, occasionally an emergency dictates urgent action, but more often than not we have time for stepping back, thinking, and drafting a plan.
If we live, as Calvin implies, as narcissists, shouldering no personal responsibility and demanding that the world meet us on our own terms, that ugly pride will sooner or later lead to our downfall.
On the other hand, those who are sure enough of themselves to tap the brakes and take the time to humbly assess a situation may avoid such defeats. Best of all, when we quit trying to impress others and work on impressing ourselves, we win.
