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About this quote

What does it mean?
Taking oneself too seriously leads to ridicule, while self-deprecating humor protects against it.
In plain terms
If you laugh at yourself, you won't look foolish when you mess up.
What can you take from it?
Humor about yourself prevents embarrassment.

Where it applies

  • leadership
  • social interactions
  • conflict resolution

Putting it to work

  • practice self-deprecation
  • stay humble

Questions to consider

  • How serious should you be about yourself?
  • Does humor make you less credible?

Another view

Not all situations allow for humor.

More from Vaclav Havel

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  2. I think theatre should always be somewhat suspect.

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  3. The most important thing is that man should be the measure of all structures, including economic structures, and not that man be made to measure for those stru…

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