The truth is, even our friends would much rather talk to us about their achievements than listen to us boast about ours. La Rochefoucauld, the French philosopher, said: “If you want enemies, excel your friends; but if you want friends, let your friends excel you.” Why is that true? Because when our friends excel us, they feel important; but when we excel them, and trumpet our successes to them, it can arouse feelings of envy and even resentment. So let’s minimize our achievements. Let’s be modest. That always makes a hit. We ought to be modest, for both you and I will pass on and be completely
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