"Some are made modest by great praise, others insolent"

When individuals receive acclaim, they often react in dramatically different ways. For some, the recognition of their abilities, character, or work leads to a deepened sense of humility. Their awareness of praise does not inflate their ego but instead highlights the weight of expectation and the responsibility to remain true to themselves and their ideals. For these individuals, external approval serves as a reminder that their actions and achievements are now under greater scrutiny, prompting modesty and a drive for further self-improvement. Their humility springs from understanding both the contingency of circumstance and the fact that any merit attributed to them may, in part, be owed to factors beyond their control, luck, support from others, or the fleeting preferences of society.

For others, however, great praise has the opposite effect. It becomes a fuel for arrogance, feeding a sense of superiority and entitlement. Instead of fostering reflection or gratitude, admiration becomes evidence of their elevated status. They may embrace the accolades as proof of their inherent greatness, dismissing criticism or undervaluing the contributions of others. In such individuals, praise becomes not a mirror inviting honest self-examination, but a pedestal from which to look down on the world. Their sense of self grows swollen with each commendation, leading to insolence, a brash and sometimes contemptuous disregard for those around them. The virtues that initially attracted praise may be displaced by vanity and hubris.

The true measure of character, therefore, is revealed not by personal achievement alone but by the reaction to recognition and praise. Humility in the face of admiration is a sign of inner strength and secure self-awareness, while insolence betrays insecurity and an overreliance on external validation. Nietzsche's observation invites reflection on how we manage the approval of others and challenges us to cultivate the quiet dignity that flourishes even under the brightest spotlight.