the_sam

Self esteem is overrated. More of it swells the ego, and ego size is usually directly proportionate to how much of an ass one is.

I can see what you mean, but too often self esteem goes unchecked by modesty. A lot of people I know as genuinely kind, good and decent people have problems with low self esteem. I think a basic sense of self respect is by far preferable to any amount of self esteem.