# Why do people describe themselves as being 'humbled' when they win an award or are otherwise honored?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-describe-themselves-as-being-humbled-when-they-win-an-award-or-are-otherwise-honored/979386>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 6, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-describe-themselves-as-being-humbled-when-they-win-an-award-or-are-otherwise-honored/979386 "2023-02-06T14:24:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-describe-themselves-as-being-humbled-when-they-win-an-award-or-are-otherwise-honored/979386/21 "2023-02-07T20:44:17Z")

</div>

I often wonder why people jump to the conclusion that “it’s an empty platitude”. Even eminently successful people struggle with self-image, and that’s likely compounded when they’re publicly placed in a category with people they hugely admire. I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt most of the time.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-describe-themselves-as-being-humbled-when-they-win-an-award-or-are-otherwise-honored/979386/22 "2023-02-07T20:52:43Z")

</div>

> [@elbows](#):
>
> If you post a clip of you playing your guitar, and your friends tell you it’s kind of awesome you might feel pumped. If Eric Clapton says he likes it, that’s actually humbling, I should think.

I think **HeyHomie** got it better. It would be more like winning a contest, and then realizing that Eric Clapton won the same contest and _who are you to have the same award as_ Eric Clapton?

~Max

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-describe-themselves-as-being-humbled-when-they-win-an-award-or-are-otherwise-honored/979386/23 "2023-02-07T21:21:03Z")

</div>

> [@Maserschmidt](#):
>
> why people jump to the conclusion that “it’s an empty platitude”

In our lifetimes there has come a trend towards “keeping it real” and rejecting false modesties, and also of affirmation of self-regard. Which is fine and good, but, yeah, that does not mean either that social formalities that make for a kinder, gentler interaction must be dismissed as “empty platitudes”.

Besides “damn right, it was time you all recognized how awesome I am!” Unless given with a knowing wink, makes one sound like an asshat. Or Kanye.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-describe-themselves-as-being-humbled-when-they-win-an-award-or-are-otherwise-honored/979386/24 "2023-02-08T01:21:19Z")

</div>

I am sure it must be very humbling to follow in the footsteps of such noteworthies as Christopher Cross and Milli Vanilli.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-describe-themselves-as-being-humbled-when-they-win-an-award-or-are-otherwise-honored/979386.md?page=1)