Benjamin Franklin in his Autobiography talks above overcoming personal weakness (cf. Franklin's Virtues) and ends his analysis by admitting, in typical self-deprecating fashion, that he has to fight most against conceit:

In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had compleatly overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.

The charming confession brings to mind proud Mr. Toad in the 1983 animated version of The Wind in the Willows, who pats himself on the back with, "Few have so little to be modest about!"

(cf. Pretense and Lack Thereof (1999-10-11), ...) - ^z - 2008-06-03

(correlates: PretenseAndLackThereof, WhyWorry, Franklin on Libraries, ...)