Hubris

/ˈhjuːbrɪs/ noun

Definition

Excessive pride or self-confidence, especially when it leads to downfall — the ancient Greek concept of mortals overstepping their boundaries.

Etymology

From Greek hybris (insolence, outrage). In Greek tragedy, hubris was the specific sin of believing yourself equal to the gods. It was not just arrogance — it was a violation of cosmic order that demanded punishment.

Kelly Says

In Greek drama, hubris was not just pride — it was the specific crime of forgetting you are mortal. Every Greek tragedy is the same story: someone forgets their limits, the gods remind them. Silicon Valley calls it "disruption." Athens called it hubris.

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