He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him

In the words of George Eliot, “He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow.” This image, vivid and poignant, speaks to a certain hubris—an inflated sense of one's own importance and the misguided belief that the world revolves around one's actions. It is a reflection on the folly of pride, the danger of self-centeredness, and the misunderstanding of one's role in the grand scheme of things. Eliot uses this metaphor to remind us of an eternal truth: the world does not exist solely to serve the whims of the individual, and to believe otherwise is to fall into the trap of vanity.

In the ancient world, wisdom often came in the form of stories that illustrated the danger of such arrogance. One need look no further than the tale of King Midas, whose desire for riches led him to wish that everything he touched would turn to gold. His wish, granted by the gods, soon turned tragic as he found that even his food, his drink, and his beloved daughter were transformed into lifeless metal. Midas, in his pride, believed that the world would bend to his will, but he soon learned that the universe operates on a scale far beyond individual desires. Eliot’s metaphor of the cock, so full of himself, mirrors this tragic flaw in human nature.

The cock, in its proud crowing, believes that it is the cause of the sun’s rising, just as the man who is arrogant in his own abilities believes that the world’s events occur in response to his actions. The cock does not understand that the sun rises whether it crows or not, just as a person’s significance is not determined by their belief in their own centrality to the world. Arrogance, in all its forms, is the folly of thinking that we are the center of everything, that our actions alone drive the world forward. The lesson here is clear: humility is the path to wisdom, for those who understand that they are but a small part of a much larger whole are those who live most harmoniously with the world.

This lesson is not one that the powerful or influential often heed easily. History is littered with leaders who have fallen into the trap of thinking they are the cause of the world's unfolding. Napoleon Bonaparte, the great French general, once believed he was invincible, that his will could bend the course of history. Yet, despite his genius on the battlefield, his overconfidence led him to disastrous decisions, such as his ill-fated invasion of Russia. Like the cock who believed it caused the sun to rise, Napoleon’s belief in his own supremacy ultimately led to his downfall.

There is a story from ancient times that offers us a powerful example of the opposite of this arrogance: the story of Socrates, the great philosopher. Socrates, unlike the cock, understood the vastness of the universe and his own limited knowledge. He famously claimed, “I know that I know nothing.” This humble acceptance of his own limitations stood in stark contrast to those who believed they could control the universe with their will. Socrates was not blind to his importance, but he understood that his place in the world was to seek knowledge, not to dominate or control.

The lesson of Eliot's quote and of the stories of history is one of deep reflection and self-awareness. It calls us to examine our own hearts and ask: Do we believe the world bends to our will, or do we recognize that we are but one part of the great tapestry of existence? Are we like the cock, crowing in the belief that the sun rises because of our actions, or do we see ourselves as part of a greater order, humbly accepting our place within it?

To live with wisdom, one must cultivate the virtue of humility. Actions born from pride and self-importance lead only to destruction and disillusionment. Instead, let us strive to remember that while we have influence over our own lives, we are not the authors of the world's great story. We must live with the understanding that our actions, though meaningful, are but one thread in the vast and complex web of life. Embrace humility, and with it, the wisdom that comes from understanding our role in the ever-unfolding journey of the world.