Hubris isn’t just pride; it’s not just arrogance. It’s also “a dangerous character flaw capable of provoking the gods” according to the Miriam-Webster dictionary.
And the ancient Greeks from whom we got the word had lots of stories to illustrate the point.
Odysseus was a clever guy but arrogant. On his trip home from the Trojan War, he blinded a Cyclops, tricked him, and escaped. He should have left it at that. Instead, he shouted back that he was Odysseus of Ithaca. Then he insulted the Cyclops’s father, Poseidon, the god of the sea.
Punishment: Poseidon turned Odysseus’s one-week trip home into a ten-year journey.
Arachne was a fantastic weaver. She told everyone that she was even better than the goddess Athena. In fact, she challenged Athena to a weaving contest. In the Roman retelling of the story, she wove a tapestry showing scenes of the gods infidelities. Now that’s hubris! No wonder Athena turned her into a spider.
I’m no expert on Greek myths, but it seems that hubris figures in many of them. Remember Icarus who flew too close to the sun and melted the wax that held the feathers of his wings together. His hubris sent him falling into the sea and drowning.
Then there’s Niobe. Poor Niobe. She made the mistake of boasting to the goddess Leto, about her seven sons and seven daughters. You don’t make that kind of boast to someone who only has two children, even if those children happen to be Apollo and Artemis. Niobe paid dearly for her hubris. Leto sent Apollo to kill Niobe’s sons and Artemis to kill the daughters.
Putin thought he could conquer Kyiv in three days. In fact, his military even carried parade uniforms with them for their victory parade through Kyiv. But the Ukrainian people fought back with all their might. Now, more than three years later, Russia controls only 12% of Ukrainian land, but they have sustained 936,210 casualties, and they have damaged their own economy.
If Putin were a Greek hero, the punishment of the gods would be more decisive. But this isn’t over yet.
Trump’s hubris extends to the whole world (except for 3 or 4 special “friends”). In announcing exceptionally large tariffs on 90 countries, Trump seems to believe he can force them to bow to his whims. He’s finding out, though, that in many cases they’re refusing to bow down. Will the gods punish him for his hubris, or will we all be made to suffer?
Greek myths are only myths, but they always portray some truth about the real world and about our desire for justice.
P.S. I didn’t include Elon Musk in this post, but there’s new book out about him called Hubris Maximus: the Shattering of Elon Musk by Faiz Siddiqui. It was published just five days ago.
Excellent article Nicki! Thank you for posting – I hope it gets a big audience!
Thank you, Maureen. It was fun to write it.
It’s fascinating to see how the myths and stories of the past seem to play out right in front of us these days. It seems so many want attention and power, along with a desire to be the best. There’s so much to keep up with what’s going on these days…it’s impossible to keep up.
Ancient Chinese stories also teach lessons about good moral behavior and the potential result of choosing wrong-doing. Maybe one analogy of the Greek idea of displeasing the gods would be the Chinese idea of losing the Mandate of Heaven. Of course, that’s more political. In Chinese lore, how would individual misbehavior be punished?
I think it’s interesting how myths, legends and lores from different cultures can be similar. I think in Chinese culture in history, punishment tends to come in the forms of capital punishment, and encompassing demotion and servitude. Fascinating how times have change but I guess sometimes the sentiments echo.
I have the impression that many Chinese fables are very old. They come from a time when life was more dangerous and misbehavior could be serious or even deadly. The punishment must keep you on the straight and narrow. Therefore it must be more than a slap on the wrist.
Good word, sadly far too prevalent and apt for the world we currently live in.
I feel as though the prevalence of hubris is related to a disrespect for truth and the creation of one’s own alternate reality in which you are brilliant and invincible.
Hear, hear! I know that I’ve thought about the concept of hubris more in the last few months than in all my previous years. It seems to be coming at us from many angles.
You ask: “Will the gods punish him for his hubris, or will we all be made to suffer?” I pray for the first, expect the second. *sigh*
I wonder if being a billionaire makes some people feel they are capable of doing anything, that they can defy the laws of gravity without falling.
Hubris does come before the fall. May it be soon!
From your lips to “the gods'” ears.
A lot of Trump supporters admire his hubris. But unlike the actual accomplishments of an Arachne, Trump is capable of nothing but bankrupting companies…and soon the country.
It’s true. Timidity is not attractive. We all like bravery and self-confidence, but confidence based on actual ability and knowledge and acceptance of reality.
In a just world, Putin and Trump would not hold the reins of power. Neither are fit to lead.
Neither are fit to lead, and yet both the United States and Russia allowed it to happen. Where are those angry gods of yore?
Hubris is dangerous for sure. I can’t think of a single instance where it didn’t lead to regret and disaster.