Humble, A Self-Defense Weapon in Modern Life

A video clip went viral on social media at the end of the third week of September 2025. It recorded a scene where a cafe employee was assaulted after asking a customer not to smoke in a non-smoking area. The image of the man, whom netizens dubbed the “CEO,” raising his hand as if giving an order, sparked a strong public reaction; the person who directly assaulted the employee was later arrested by the police, while the person who appeared in the clip went to the cafe to apologize but was not accepted. The incident quickly transformed from a minor scuffle at a cafe into a wake-up call about the behavior of young people in the age of social media.

The assault at the Times City urban area (according to initial reports) raised many questions: Why does the behavior of flaunting power and making “commanding” gestures easily lead to violence? Why does the image of a “social media tycoon” easily turn into a source of trouble? And more importantly: if the people involved had known how to be humble, a virtue often mentioned by the ancients, could the consequences have been mitigated? This article deeply analyzes that aspect—drawing from historical philosophy, practical interests, spiritual perspectives, and daily behavior—to extract specific lessons for individuals and leaders.

Today, we will not dwell on the story surrounding this “CEO” incident. Let the authorities clarify the right and wrong elements of the story. Today, we will look at “humility,” a self-defense weapon in modern life.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ostentation and Provocation Only Lead to Bad Consequences.

Surveys of news reports and clips show a recurring scenario: a moment of excessive confidence (gesturing, speaking loudly, acting “powerful”) → a reaction from those around (annoyance, challenge, or defensiveness) → escalation into assault or scuffle → going viral on the internet → legal investigation, media crisis, and reputational damage. In the recent incident, the person mentioned was the Chairman of a training company with an office and online financial courses; this company was subsequently negatively affected by the viral information. The person who directly committed the assault was temporarily detained by the police. These developments show how a moment of arrogance can lead to legal and social consequences very quickly.

Humility, The Teachings of the Ancients, and a Multidimensional Perspective

Major Eastern philosophical schools give humility a key position. Confucius praised “humility” as a quality of a gentleman, related to courtesy and the use of etiquette to maintain harmonious relationships. Lao Tzu described the power of “weakness” (humility), like water flowing to the lowest places, as the principle of wu wei (effortless action), where advantage lies in flexibility. Buddhism warns that “arrogance” is the source of afflictions and negative karma, while the Liao Fan’s Four Lessons (recounting teachings on cultivating virtue) repeatedly emphasizes: arrogance easily leads to disaster, while humility preserves blessings. These teachings are not just for literary embellishment but are social experiences accumulated over generations. They teach that reducing one’s ego helps society function more smoothly and helps individuals avoid loss. (This idea and tradition have been explained in classic commentaries on ancient culture, Buddhism, and Confucianism.)

Practical Perspective: Humility is a Risk Management Strategy

Reduces the probability of conflict escalation: When people don’t flaunt their power, they send fewer provocative signals. In public environments, where tensions can flare up instantly, maintaining distance, using gentle words, or retreating are effective preventive tools. The behavior of showing off, making “powerful” gestures, or acting like a “tycoon/CEO” easily provokes reactions from others (anger, self-defense, a desire to “put someone in their place”). And when an imposing gesture is made, conflict is likely to erupt. Humble people have less motivation to show off, thus reducing the risk of initial aggression. (Think of it as: less imposition = less friction).

De-escalates media and legal issues: A humble attitude after an incident (frankly admitting fault, cooperating with an investigation, sincere apology) is often seen more positively by the public than an attitude of stubbornness, denial, or defiance, and it helps reduce long-term damage to a personal/corporate brand. Recent real-life incidents show that a “timely and humble apology” often reduces public outrage. If a person handles a situation with a humble attitude, apologizing, or retreating when needed, they are less likely to be exploited by an overly confident/arrogant image on social media. This can cause the public to react strongly and for the law to intervene. Liao Fan reminds us that arrogance often leads to “disaster,” while humility preserves blessings.

Protects social capital: The most important asset for a businessperson is not just financial capital but also reputation and relationships. Boasting can bring short-term benefits; humility builds long-term trust. The time, money, and reputation spent on resolving disputes are very costly. Humility helps resolve many situations through dialogue and mediation rather than litigation. Humble people are more likely to attract genuine help (networks, mentors). People who often show off are often isolated.

Spiritual and Karmic Perspective: Humility is “Peace of Mind”

In the concept of cause and effect common in many traditions, arrogant behavior and trampling on others create negative “karma.” The consequences return in many forms (difficulties, losses, troubles). Conversely, actions with compassion, humility, and acknowledging mistakes create positive karma, which is more likely to lead to well-being. Internally, humility helps reduce the desire to show off and the fear of being compared, thereby reducing stress and impulsive reactions. In other words, humility is a method of self-cultivation that helps people control their emotions and avoid actions they will later regret. (These arguments are demonstrated in Buddhist teachings and Confucian-Taoist thought).

Karmic View: Arrogance, assault, and trampling on others create negative actions (karma). This leads to consequences later on. Humility and compassion create good karma, attracting positive results.
Inner Peace: Humility comes with letting go of the desire to show off, reducing greed, anger, and delusion → less stress, less fear of comparison, and a more peaceful inner life. A serene person has less motivation to act impulsively.
Character Cultivation: Many traditions see humility as a stage for spiritual growth. A humble person is more receptive, able to correct mistakes, and develop enlightened wisdom than a complacent person.

Everyday Life and Social Interaction: Specific Humility Skills

Humility is not about silently accepting being wronged but about knowing how to behave strategically. Some application principles:

Conflict-reducing language: Instead of saying, “Who gave you permission to tell me what to do?”, say, “I’m sorry, I didn’t notice, thank you for reminding me.” This way of speaking breaks the cycle of provocation.
Body language: Maintain distance, don’t point fingers, don’t get too close; sometimes a slight smile will calm the situation.
Smart retreat: Stepping away from a tense situation and then resolving it through management or legal channels is a way to save face without causing further harm.
Transparency on social media: Don’t show off excessively; if an incident occurs, the reaction should follow the principles of: apologize, provide accurate information, and cooperate with the investigation. Press evidence shows that stubborn people often face a stronger boycott wave.

Humility for Leaders: “Serving” Instead of “Commanding”

For leaders and entrepreneurs, especially those who found training courses and seek to build trust with students, humility is the foundation of servant leadership. A humble leader listens, takes responsibility, and builds crisis management procedures instead of displaying personal power. This not only reduces legal risks but also increases the loyalty of the team and customers, which is a long-term lifeline for the business. The recent “CEO” incident showed the risk of an image’s magic exceeding its substance: one moment of lack of self-control was enough to destroy a great reputation.

Historical Evidence and the Message of the Ancients

We can briefly cite some ancient guidance: Confucius: “A gentleman is harmonious but not identical, identical but not harmonious” (emphasizing courtesy and grace); Lao Tzu: “The greatest victory is to be weak,” praising softness; Liao Fan warns that arrogance is the cause of disaster. These words, though ancient, still hold true, and human history repeats itself: communities respect those who know humility and punish the arrogant. In the digital age, a “moment of ostentation” becomes eternal on a screen. Therefore, this lesson needs to be repeated with more urgency.

Practical Advice

The incident at the cafe was not just a small scuffle; it was a mirror reflecting a type of behavior amplified by social media: a moment of excessive confidence can turn into a media and legal disaster in an instant. Humility—in the sense of knowing how to be self-controlled, not show off, being ready to admit fault, and resolving issues through proper procedures—is not just a virtue but a survival strategy in modern society.

Some practical advice for individuals and organizations:

Teach basic emotional control skills: breathing, retreating, calling a manager/security when needed.
Establish clear codes of conduct for the team: “do not use your position to threaten” and create procedures for handling complaints.
When you make a mistake: apologize quickly, be transparent, and cooperate with the authorities.
Avoid excessive boasting on social media: maintain an image that is consistent with your true values and abilities.
Leaders should practice humility as an organizational culture: it is an “insurance policy” for the brand.

Humility does not make you weak; on the contrary, it is a spiritual armor—it protects you from unnecessary punches, from the network of online outrage, and helps you go further on your career and personal path. In a world where every action can become evidence and go viral, knowing how to be humble is understanding the value of silence at the right time, a proper apology, and responsible action—that is the wisdom of an adult.