As a virtue, would you rather have humility or confidence?

I would rather have laser eyes, but if I had to pick between these two then I would take confidence. Confidence can help ensure success and a rewardingly spontaneous life, and there's not much need for humility when I'd know I'm the best anyway.

It seems that humility is the opposite of confidence.. but maybe not. Humility is like meekness,and the meek ones secretly have a smug certitude since "the meek wil inherit the earth".   On the other hand, confidence comes from screwing up your life and then getting it right.

 

 

Humility is modesty. You don't need to be meek, you just need to be humble and respectful.

I have both and humility is IMO the hardest and most beneficial of the two. You need both for balance. Too much confidence makes you an elitist AH. Humility teaches compassion and a willingness to help others achieve success.

Confidence is a beneficial attribute but not a virtue.  Generally, I'd prefer to possess beneficial attributes by nature and acquire virtues through learning.  It's difficult to learn to be confident, but humility can be acquired reliably over time.

 

If, however, you mean that I'm only allowed to choose confidence without the capacity for humility or vice versatile, then you're asking whether I want to be a human sacrifice or a sociopath, which is an unacceptable choice.

 

In my fantastically humble opinion, the best way to achieve humility is to truly value other people's perspectives and feelings. 

 

I'd also say empathy is more important than humility.  Gautama Buddha wasn't humble initially, but his empathy for one suffering cow changed the world.

Humility can also mean meekness or submission.  A meek person can never be alpha dog.
 

 

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
when you're perfect in every way.
I can't wait to look in the mirror
cause I get better looking each day.
To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man.
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
but I'm doing the best that I can.  --Davis Mac

 

The two are not mutually exclusive.  The trait of humility is not one of self-effacement or lack of self-worth.  It is a pragmatic view of yourself in the world (your strengths, weaknesses, lack of infallibility,) while still having a stark realization of your place in the grand scheme of things.  The golden mean applies everywhere but humility and anger.

Now reading "Steve Jobs".   High on confidence, low on humility.  An entertaining read, so far.