---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A pompous, arrogant, narcissistic…"
description: "\"“A pompous, arrogant, narcissistic intellectual came up to me at a conference and said rather boastfully. \"You must feel really good about yourself to ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/abhijit-naskar-99_arrogant_a-pompous-arrogant-narcissistic-intellec_2854022.jpg"
---

#  A pompous, arrogant, narcissistic intellectual came up to…

![“A pompous, arrogant, narcissistic intellectual came up to me at a conference and said rather boastfully. &quot;You must feel really good about yourself to be the nice guy all the time! But let me tell you something - it takes balls to say what's really on your mind. You might have heard, the best…” quote by Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/abhijit-naskar-99_arrogant_a-pompous-arrogant-narcissistic-intellec_2854022.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/abhijit-naskar-99_arrogant_a-pompous-arrogant-narcissistic-intellec_2854022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/abhijit-naskar-99_arrogant_a-pompous-arrogant-narcissistic-intellec_2854022.jpg)

> ““A pompous, arrogant, narcissistic intellectual came up to me at a conference and said rather boastfully. "You must feel really good about yourself to be the nice guy all the time! But let me tell you something - it takes balls to say what's really on your mind. You might have heard, the best defense is a good offense..." He went on and on for a while, and the more he spoke the more his intolerant nature became evident. I listened to everything he had to say, then heaved a soft sight, and replied with a smile. "You are absolutely right! Ama senin gibi şerefsiz olmak insanın lazım yok - porque, no soy un hijo de puta como tú - nu okka chetta na kodakkala behave cheskovachhu, kaani naaku anthaa scene ledu." He looked rather annoyed, because all my words went over his head, so he flared out, "don't beat around the bush, man - say, what you want to say!" I spoke calmly. "I'd love to speak my mind, but I wouldn't want to give anyone an inferiority complex. Bad behavior don't make us cool, it only exposes the fool we are. If bad behavior made the world better, we'd already be living in utopia, instead of still struggling for basic human rights." I didn't want the argument to linger any longer, so I asked him to join me for lunch. You see, self-regulation is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It doesn't take any character for the animal to be animal, but the true test of character is to behave human, upon conquering our inner animal.””

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A boastful intellectual equates aggression with honesty, but true strength lies in self‑control and respectful dialogue.

**In simple terms:** Confidence isn’t about aggression; it’s about restraint and empathy.

Key Takeaway

Choose calm, respectful communication over loud bravado.

Themes

self‑regulation humility communication strength conflict resolution

Mood

thoughtful assertive calm

Type

advice philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

- workplace debates
- online forums
- personal relationships
- public speaking

Key Concepts

emotional intelligence ethical discourse character development

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you assert yourself without demeaning others?
- What habits cultivate respectful dialogue?

A Different Perspective

Aggression can sometimes be persuasive, but it often alienates and escalates conflict.

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[Arrogant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogant/) [Bad behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-behavior/) [Basic human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-human-rights/) [Cognitive dissonance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cognitive-dissonance/) [Ethics-and-morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics-and-morality/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Inferiority complex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferiority-complex/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Nice guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-guy/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) [Self regulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-regulation/) [Self restraint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-restraint/) [Test of character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-of-character/)

## Related quotes

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> [“Why am I with you? You're so conceited, arrogant-" "Narcissistic," I add, "attractive, lovable, brilliant." "That wasn't an invitation for you to compliment yourself."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/why-am-i-with-you-you-re-so-conceited-arrogant-narcissistic-i-add/)

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> [“Morality does not come to this mortal world from some imaginary paradise. It rises from the neurons of mortal humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/morality-does-not-come-to-this-mortal-world-from-some-imaginary/)

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> [“If science could make a person understand the true significance of morality in human existence, - and more importantly, if science could enable a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-science-could-make-a-person-understand-the-true-significance-of/)

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> [There are more pompous, arrogant, self-centered mediocre people running corporate America Their judgments and misjudgments have made me rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-jamail-jr/there-are-more-pompous-arrogant-self-centered-mediocre-people-running/)

Joseph D Jamail Jr

> [James Lipton: The most pompous arrogant failure in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/james-lipton-the-most-pompous-arrogant-failure-in-history/)

[David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/)

> [Those who call themselves art photographers are pompous, arrogant egoists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/those-who-call-themselves-art-photographers-are-pompous-arrogant/)

[Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/)

> [“Funny how money speaks even more loudly than morals in this beautiful, superficial material world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/funny-how-money-speaks-even-more-loudly-than-morals-in-this-beautiful/)

[Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/)

> [“Speak with caution. Even if someone forgives harsh words you've spoken, they may be too hurt to ever forget them. Don't leave a legacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/speak-with-caution-even-if-someone-forgives-harsh-words-you-ve-spoken/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“A wronged person is still a wronged person even if they're an unfashionable wronged person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-jonson/a-wronged-person-is-still-a-wronged-person-even-if-they-re-an/)

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> [“Most of the suffering in the world could be avoided if people choose to do good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/most-of-the-suffering-in-the-world-could-be-avoided-if-people-choose/)

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[Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/)

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[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

## More by Abhijit Naskar

> [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/)

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> [“I hereby propose the term “miserize”, as a verb for misery – referring to “to cause misery”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-hereby-propose-the-term-miserize-as-a-verb-for-misery-referring-to/)

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> [“There is no time for patience - there is no time for diplomacy - there is no time for policies, legislations and meaningless paperwork.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-is-no-time-for-patience-there-is-no-time-for-diplomacy-there-is/)

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> [“human heart only sweetens when broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/human-heart-only-sweetens-when-broken/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“When all are one sentience, Language withers and fades away. Let's sit together and speak in silence, Let's be light to each other's way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-all-are-one-sentience-language-withers-and-fades-away-let-s-sit/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/)

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> [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/)

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> [“Desert are you, deluge are you, in a crowd of fakes, only truth is you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/desert-are-you-deluge-are-you-in-a-crowd-of-fakes-only-truth-is-you/)

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> [“Book Bans Are Dumb (Sonnet 1587) Book bans are dumb, It makes the mind numb. If banning books were justice, Middle ages would've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/book-bans-are-dumb-sonnet-1587-book-bans-are-dumb-it-makes-the-mind/)

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[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“There are no greater or truer lords, gods, fathers, sons or holy spirits, than the humans. Humans are the highest beings on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-are-no-greater-or-truer-lords-gods-fathers-sons-or-holy-spirits/)

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[Explore all 1,332 Abhijit Naskar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

## More Arrogant quotes

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> [I absolutely hate arrogant people, irks me to no end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-absolutely-hate-arrogant-people-irks-me-to-no-end/)

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> [Mourinho is a bit arrogant, but you've got to like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nicol/mourinho-is-a-bit-arrogant-but-you-ve-got-to-like-him/)

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[Melissa Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-blue/)

> [Being nice to people gets you nowhere. Being arrogant gets you nowhere. Blackmail, now that's a thing that will get you everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-to-people-gets-you-nowhere-being-arrogant-gets-you-nowhere/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's amusing how arrogant people can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amusing-how-arrogant-people-can-be/)

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}
```
