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I think it rings true. Secure people don’t have to bug other people and make other peoples lives miserable.
I’m reading a book right now that has boats loads of knowledge and I can notice my ego dissipating day by day by looking at old posts of mine thinking what a jackass I was.
I also believe ego is the cause of everything bad in the world and by reducing your ego it could help with mental illness, personality disorders and just being a nicer person.
I believe the ego is important.
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Define ego.
If it means your shadow self (Jungian term) dominating your own presence in the world around you, both social and physical, then I would say, it is good to let it go. However, why call your shadow self the ego? I favor an individualistic approach qua Ayn Rand. Perhaps I am equivocating shadow self with what many call ego, as in Buddhists and their kin, but let us consider: is the majority right? Most people will concur that having a large or strong ego is a bad thing… Why is this? Is it because most people are weak and ineffectual and when they see someone who is strong they are jealous? I’m leaning toward yes on this last question. Would it surprise you to know that most people who are successful have enormous egos? I’m not talking just in monetary terms here, but also intellectual accomplishment. Why be humble if you are not close to the ground? What if you are noble? What if you are accomplished? Why waste your time on those who have nothing to contribute to your own advancement? This is just my view, to each his/her own.
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I think yin and yang is good to any thing. Humility is important but having a strong sense of self is also very important. Sigmund Freud defined it as your amount of rational thought…so I think Einstein’s quote would completely contradict his meaning. It is a very complicated word that has confused me a bunch in the past but I think I have a decent grasp on it now. I believe that by looking at the world without your ego it helps make your ego more healthy…that’s why people take hallucinogenic drugs, because you temporarily lose your ego and see the world without your biases, and then it is only healthy for your ego to return to normal with your new changed point of view. I believe though by reading about relationships and astrology and human behavior and better understanding people, it helps get rid of my ego. Spiritual influence directly affects not having “too much ego”. But some ego is healthy. This was the type of response I was looking for! Thank you! Interested in your feedback of it all.
I guess, being humble makes you more open towards embracing more knowledge and new concepts. Ego means somehow you start building the thought that what you know is the ultimate truth only. There is nothing beyond that.
It’s a full stop for your evolution. I mean we become like the person who has the attitude that what s/he is proposing should be accepted at any cost and if someone is going against it, she/he is the enemy. Ego stops you from evolving. Self is a different thing.
If you are humble, you’ll first question yourself and/or your work and then others. Egoistic person questions on others’ work first and in most cases skips his/her own work. Maybe, there is no one in the world who is humble to that extent that it could satisfy all of its conditions. And same is true for ego as well.
As I said self is a different thing. Self is recognising your strengths and weaknesses both. You are fully aware of yourself. You respect yourself and do not let yourself drop to that level where you never would like to be. As you said, self is maintaining your own individuality and dignity. At the same time letting others individuality and dignity exist as well.
I sometimes think our modern English language is very corrupt. We get these different paradigms/world views which come into conflict. Excesses of theoretical frameworks leads to communication errors. I do work from the perspective that not all people are the same or equal. Some have unique talents, others seem only to have a talent to waste air, water and food. Not that we should initiate a new holocaust, heavens no. But still, I like to recognize achievement and ability, and respect them. There is the opposite view, that we are all equally valuable, which I think leads to mediocrity or worse.
I do disagree that humility makes you more receptive to new awareness/knowledge. For me at least, it is more apt to say that humility brings on excesses of religiosity, as in, obsession with becoming the perfect example of holiness. Then, people will hate you and you may be the next candidate for crucifixion. So, maybe, hiding your talents from some people would be wise, a possible humble action. Am I being paranoid? I think not. People do get jealous. That is why it is a word in our language. Exceptional person=target for the spiteful. So, maybe I do value humility to a certain extent (btw, I like flow of consciousness writing). But… the question arises: why be exceptional? Do I want to prove my god-complex? 
Perhaps. I think there is a better option than being human. Please forgive me for saying this, but, this world is way beyond my threshold for evil tolerance.
Also, I think most people suffer from the delusions brought on by hearing or reading something that sounds nice, such as a quote, and assume it is true without reflecting deeper than a couple inches out of say infinite depths.
I dont know about you all but it really pisses me off when people use the word “ego”. I guess its all started from when I heard ego meant: Edging God Out. Then I just get this voice in my head saying “egotistical ■■■■■■■”. . The use of the word and the word itself degrades a man or womens self confidence and self esteem. And usually said by a abuser to his prey to try to gain mental control over the person. So when people use this word it just makes angery. It also can cause me to confuse ego with my self confidence which is the point, right?
But I’m glad you brought it up though because now I know how I feel about that word. Same goes for the word pride, people use the words pride and ego to try to make you feel bad about being confident and standing firm in your beliefs.
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