There is a kind of harmful modesty which ... sometimes affects men of superior character to their detriment by keeping them in a state of mediocrity. I am reminded of the remark that a certain gentleman of acknowledged eminence once made at luncheon to some persons of the Court, "How bitterly I regret the time I wasted merely to learn how superior I am to all of you!”. (Nicolas Chamfort)

There is a kind of harmful modesty which ... sometimes affects men of superior character to their detriment by keeping them in a state of mediocrity. I am reminded of the remark that a certain gentleman of acknowledged eminence once made at luncheon to some persons of the Court, "How bitterly I regret the time I wasted merely to learn how superior I am to all of you!”.

Nicolas Chamfort

Related topics

certain character court detriment eminence gentleman men keeping kind learn luncheon mediocrity modesty once regret remark state superior time

Related quotes