- Aristotle continues with his list of "Virtues-That-Shall-Remain-Nameless." This time, he struggles to find the mean for "boasting."
- A boaster pretends to be awesome—even though he clearly isn't. He claims abilities he either doesn't have or that aren't as developed as he says.
- On the other end of the spectrum, we have the "ironist," who downplays his good qualities and abilities.
- The person who rides the line between the boaster and the ironist might be called truthful, in that he represents himself accurately.
- The boastful person enjoys lying but isn't necessarily malicious. He's just a fool.
- Aristotle has a little bit of love for this scamp: if he boasts to increase his honor, it's not as bad as lying for financial gain.
- Ironists, too, can be lovable. Because they don't jabber on, they seem more refined (not silly or crass). Aristotle reminds us that Socrates was always downplaying his abilities.
- But Aristotle, 4th century B.C. as he was, understood something of the humblebrag.
- He knew that overly downplaying yourself was a kind of boasting in itself. Not cool.