I find
it very difficult to say whether it is well for people who cherish
such illusions about their personal impressiveness to get rid of
such illusions, when personal impressiveness is a real factor in
their success. To do a thing really well it is essential to have a
substantial confidence in one's aptitude for the task. And
undoubtedly diffidence and humility, however sincere, are a bad
outfit for a man in a public position. I am inclined to think that
self-confidence, and a certain degree of self-satisfaction, are
valuable assets, so long as a man believes primarily in the
importance of what he has to say and do, and only secondarily in
his own power of, and fitness for, saying and doing it.
There is an interesting story--I do not vouch for the truth of it--
that used to be told of Cardinal Manning, who undoubtedly had a
strong sense of dramatic effect. He was putting on his robes one
evening in the sacristy of the Cathedral at Westminster, when a
noise was heard at the door, as of one who was determined on
forcing an entrance in spite of the remonstrances of the
attendants.
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