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Q&A How can I have a character introduce themselves as humble without making them seem arrogant?

I just wouldn't say "humble." Find a situation in which they have done something that is obviously humble, like they risked their life to save a child, but somebody else took credit and they did n...

posted 4y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  edited 4y ago by Amadeus‭

Answer
#5: Post edited by user avatar Amadeus‭ · 2020-02-12T11:57:47Z (about 4 years ago)
  • I just wouldn't say "humble."
  • Find a situation in which they have done something that is obviously humble, like they risked their life to save a child, but somebody else took credit and they did not argue the point.
  • Find a conversation, in dating, in which the date asks a question that triggers the story.
  • Have your character tell the story. The date reacts,
  • > "You were the hero there! Why did you let the cop claim to be the hero?"
  • >
  • > "I risked my life to save her life. I cannot demand admiration in return, that makes it a transaction, and cheapens it. I know what happened, what else matters? I would do it again knowing the outcome."
  • Of course you can come up with your own similar idea, but indirect is the way to go. Claiming to be something admirable is just not humble! You have to find a way to **_show_** the character is humble, so the other person (and the reader) realize that on their own. Then **they** can say your character is humble.
  • I just wouldn't say "humble."
  • Find a situation in which they have done something that is obviously humble, like they risked their life to save a child, but somebody else took credit and they did not argue the point.
  • Find a conversation, in dating, in which the date asks a question that triggers the story.
  • Have your character tell the story. The date reacts,
  • > "You were the hero there! Why did you let the cop claim to be the hero?"
  • >
  • > "I risked my life to save her life. I cannot demand admiration in return, that makes it a transaction, and cheapens it. I know what happened, what else matters? I would do it again knowing the outcome."
  • Of course you can come up with your own similar idea, but indirect is the way to go. Claiming to be something admirable is just not humble! You have to find a way to **_show_** the character is humble, so the other person (and the reader) realize that on their own. Then **they** can say your character is humble.
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-19T22:13:57Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/48774
License name: CC BY-SA 4.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T13:11:39Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/48774
License name: CC BY-SA 4.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T13:11:39Z (over 4 years ago)
I just wouldn't say "humble."

Find a situation in which they have done something that is obviously humble, like they risked their life to save a child, but somebody else took credit and they did not argue the point.

Find a conversation, in dating, in which the date asks a question that triggers the story.

Have your character tell the story. The date reacts,

> "You were the hero there! Why did you let the cop claim to be the hero?"
> 
> "I risked my life to save her life. I cannot demand admiration in return, that makes it a transaction, and cheapens it. I know what happened, what else matters? I would do it again knowing the outcome."

Of course you can come up with your own similar idea, but indirect is the way to go. Claiming to be something admirable is just not humble! You have to find a way to **_show_** the character is humble, so the other person (and the reader) realize that on their own. Then **they** can say your character is humble.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-10-30T14:18:13Z (over 4 years ago)
Original score: 1