The Problem with Arrogance
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.“
- Socrates
There are people who argue for the sake of arguing. They discuss things only so they could assert their “intelligence,” “knowledge,” “wisdom,” “superiority,” or whatever it is they want people to know about. Fighting and standing up for the truth is one thing, asserting your own opinion and disrespecting and insulting people in the process is another.
I consider myself to be a person of substance, willing to stand up for what is true, just, and fair. But I never argue for the sake of arguing. I join in discussions for the sake of letting people know what I know and what I think, but never to rub on other people’s faces that I am smarter, better, or more enlightened.
There are truths in this life, in this world that are non-debatable and non-changing. No matter how skewed our perception of it is, it does not and will not change.
Then, there are opinions, beliefs, things that differ from one person to another. Yes, there are false or, I dare say, false beliefs and wrong opinions. But how am I to say which is false and wrong when I am closed to the idea that mine might be the ones false or wrong?
Life, for me is an unending quest for the truth, a journey aimed at enriching one’s self with knowledge. If one, at a certain point in this journey, is content with what he knows and closes himself to other possibilities, argues for the sake of arguing rather than learning, then there is no point in living.
At this point, the arrogant fails to live. Arrogant people lack perspective. They believe so strongly in themselves that they fail to acknowledge one of the truths of life: no man is perfect. You may consider your self so enlightened, so knowledgeable, so above the rest. But no matter how hard you try, you can never claim to have the right belief or opinion. Simply because, there is no one right belief or opinion.
Men are limited beings with limited capacities, limited experiences. And no matter how hard one tries, one cannot claim to have to right or best perspective, view, belief, or opinion.
At best, we can try to examine ourselves, our perspectives, our views, beliefs, and opinions by opening ourselves up. We discuss things to learn, not just to assert ourselves. Closing one’s mind to things, stunts one’s growth.
Arrogance is not only annoying, it is self-destructive.
