Systematic Overestimate

^z 11th August 2023 at 8:03pm

In a letter written at age 83 the British philosopher/essayist Sir Isaiah Berlin observed:

... my life has been entirely founded on a systematic over-estimate of my capacities ...

When I saw that I thought, "Gee, that's me!" It took me a bit longer to figure out, "Gee, that's everybody!"—at least, everybody who's more-or-less considered successful.

Few, however, realize it ...

(from [1], note dated 1992-10-16 written to Michael Johnson; cf. Isaiah Berlin (2005-11-24), ...) - ^z - 2009-01-30