Larry Wall Quotes

Vanity can easily overtake wisdom. It usually overtakes common sense.

In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.

I think people who lack humility are really annoying.

Bonfire of the Vanities: The lesson of that book is, never start believing your own press.

I was a pretty pretentious kid. I was always making art.

If I was sharp in every area, I might be too big-headed or something.

Self-conceit may lead to self destruction.

Pride and conceit were the original sins of man.

Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves.

I was a modest, good-humoured boy. It is Oxford that has made me insufferable.

I never knew a more presumptuous person than myself. The fact that I say that shows that what I say is true.

On occasions I have been big-headed. I think most people are when they get in the limelight. I call myself Big Head just to remind myself not to be.

The silent killer of all great men and women of achievement - particularly men, I don't know why, maybe it's the testosterone - I think it's narcissism. Even more than hubris. And for women, too. Narcissism is the killer.

It's hubris to think that the way we see things is everything there is.

Be careful of hubris about ideas—especially your own. Remember always, that there is one commonality between all the good ideas that were ever created and all the bad ideas: The people you created them thought that they were good ideas.

I am not the humblest person in the world. I admit that.

The biggest obstacle that stalls leaders' growth is the human ego. When leaders start to think they know it all, they stop growing.

Arrogance - I have very little tolerance for that.

I've got it all: I'm good-looking, I'm educated, I can sing, and I can play rugby. Ridiculous, isn't it?

I find it alarming that people are so convinced they're the best at anything - presenting, hairdressing, getting dressed.

I'd never want to get too big for my boots.

Frankly, my head can never be bloated.

Probably because the first two albums were so successful, we got a little bit smug.

You can sometimes get the big head and overlook things.

The peril of every fine faculty is the delight of playing with it for pride. Talent is commonly developed at the expense of character, and the greater it grows, the more is the mischief. Talent is mistaken for genius, a dogma or system for truth, ambition for greatness, ingenuity for poetry, sensuality for art.