Underlying Foundations of Modesty
It is best not to pretend to know all about everything. Even if they do know something, cultivated people do not advertise the fact. It is the bumpkin who talks as though he knows everything. Even if one is outstanding in some way, to think of ones self as impressive is unbecoming. It is better not to talk much about what one knows, not to speak of it unless asked.
When ignorant people make assessments of others and think that they know others know, they cannot be right. For example, when someone who lacks intelligence but is good at chess sees intelligent people who are not good at chess, he thinks they are not as smart as he is. And when he sees people who are skilled at all sorts of arts but don’t know how to play chess, he thinks he is better than they are. This is a big mistake.
