On Modesty

Modesty as a characteristic has assumed over the years a greater part of my reflections. I have come to put it very near the top of the characteristics I feel most desirable. More than that, essential. I have been troubled to find myself lacking in it, or a sufficient quantity of it, and have resolved to acquire more of it. I have urged it upon readers in their discourse with their fellows on Islam. I have urged that on others of course because I found it lacking in myself.

I have also seen it as part of the American character though. We have never been a society that has been much taken by the "isms" that roiled the twentieth century and nearly killed off the human species. Nazism, fascism, communism, these we have been plagued so little by as to seem almost inoculated against. Even the more benign socialism, which has entrenched itself in father England, in America sprouted only a few fragile seedlings which did not survive many seasons.

I believe that Americans have an innate skepticism for any idea that seems too all encompassing, that claims to explain all. We may not be able to intellectually dissect our difficulties with it but we have an innate distrust of it and trust our instincts enough to disregard it.

I have read a book called Pilgrim's Way, written in 1939. This post was occasioned by the following passage that the author John Buchan wrote in a chapter called "My America." He briefly discussed the American's characteristics:

"Lastly--and this may seem a paradox--I maintain that they are fundamentally modest."

He went on to give some particulars:

"Their interest in others is proof of it;...As a nation they are said to be sensitive to criticism; that surely is modesty, for the truly arrogant care nothing for the opinion of other people. Above all they can laugh at themselves, which is not possible for the immodest."

John Buchan, of whom more will be written here at some point, was one of the most remarkable men of his or any other time. To read these words of his on us was a wonderful start to the morning. I am Benjamin Harris.