Jack Welch, Jack: Straight from the Gut, Chapter 24 (2001).
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Arrogance is a killer, and wearing ambition on one's sleeve can have the same effect. There is a fine line between arrogance and self-confidence. Legitimate self-confidence is a winner. The true test of self-confidence is the courage to be open—to welcome change and new ideas regardless of their source. Self-confident people aren't afraid to have their views challenged. They relish the intellectual combat that enriches ideas.

— Jack Welch on Confidence

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Arrogance is a killer, and wearing ambition on one's sleeve can have the same effect. There is a fine line between arrogance and self-confidence. Legitimate self-confidence is a winner. The true test of self-confidence is the courage to be open—to welcome change and new ideas regardless of their source. Self-confident people aren't afraid to have their views challenged. They relish the intellectual combat that enriches ideas." in the context of "Jack Welch, Jack: Straight from the Gut, Chapter 24 (2001)." to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Confidence" (Quotes) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Jack Welch

About Jack Welch

John Francis Welch Jr. (November 19, 1935 – March 1, 2020) was an American businessman who served as Chairman and CEO of General Electric between 1981 and 2001. During his tenure, GE increased its market capitalization by over $400 billion. Welch also oversaw the firing of more than 100,000 GE employees, and was awarded a severance package of $417 million when he retired in 2001, the largest such payment in history.