"It was delightful but, of course, it was pretty insulting to my professional reputation"

This quote by Anthony Holden talks to the idea of being both happy and insulted at the exact same time. Holden is likely referring to a scenario in which he was offered a compliment, but the compliment was not in line with his expert credibility. He is pleased by the compliment, however at the very same time, he is insulted because it does not reflect the level of expertise he has actually attained in his occupation. This quote speaks with the idea that even when we receive compliments, they can still be upsetting if they do not reflect our true capabilities. It is a tip that we should not take compliments at stated value, but rather, make the effort to reflect on how they make us feel and if they are genuinely reflective of our accomplishments.