On Fond and Deserved Accusations of Pretension

[rinue]

There comes a point at which humility is the supreme egotism. If I don't think that I am in some way extraordinary - that what I have to say is interesting and well expressed - then what the hell am I doing? How selfish it would be to say to a large audience: "I am no better than you at this, and have nothing to say that you don't already know and feel, but I think you should give me your complete attention for hours at a time to fulfill my desire for attention."