Noticed this much-bandied-about phrase that people use when they are a) accepting an award b) describing a reaction to something big - great music, the sight of the Himalayas, or some such?...The phrase is (and to me, it has the effect of nails being scraped on the walls): "I was so humbled." or "It was so humbling". This invariably comes from terribly self-important people who are all the antonyms of humble. When the phrase was first used, it was possibly genuine (or not), but now it rings so phoney, I tell you.
Humility and modesty in this form is best described by Piet Hein (google him - he's the best):
AN ODE TO MODESTY
Talking of successful rackets
modesty deserves a mention.
Exclamation marks in brackets
never fail to draw attention.
If I win any awards I will not be humble, for sure. I will be mighty pleased, chances are, I may even strut. Ditto for when I listen to superb music or am in the presence of a great edifice, etc - I'm not humbled, I'm just very happy to be sharing the same space.
Humble-shmumble
Friday, March 14, 2008
Humbler than thou
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3 comments:
I'm *humbled* by your candour. Now let me go into your archives.
Anita
This is a nice blog you have here, Gouri, have been laughing over it for the last half-an-hour!
hi pov and sra
am off to a pretty lake called mulshi lake, with the dogs and the SO (significant other). goes without saying that i will return by noon so humble - the beer will help too.
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