Everybody has met arrogant people. They walk around as if they own the world, and as if nobody else is important. They are not necessarily pompous - although he may well be.

Interestingly, the arrogant person is a study in contrasts and opposites.

On the one hand, you might wonder why anybody would want to be his friend. On the other hand, he does seem to have a lot of people who try to be his friend because he gives the impression of being so successful.

You would think that somebody like that would be rejected by people when he wants something, but he does seem to get his way in a larger number of cases than would be expected.

Although some people avoid him because they are annoyed with his attitude, others do surround him and offer him their hand in friendshihp. Indeed, his very reason for being arrogant may be a study in contrasts. It may either result from a deep-seated inferiority complex or it may be because he feels so confident and sure of himself that he can afford to be arrogant.

I know of a fellow who came to a shul for the first time and quietly approached the gabbai to mention something that should have been changed in the service, something that was overlooked.

The arrogant gabbai pulled himself up to full height and looked down at the person and asked him, "Do you want to take over the entire shul?"

Needless to say with such a welcome the fellow did not return to that shul.

Yes, it was the shul's loss but does that mean that arrogance does not pay? Not necessarily. In too many cases we see that arrogant people do get ahead.

It's a strange and interesting personality trait.

In these ways, the arrogant person is in effect the same as his opposite counterpart, the meek personality.

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Despite their external behavior, smug and arrogant people often have a negative self-image. They do not feel very good about themselves so they have to put on the smug and arrogant persona. Those who do not feel bad about themselves don't need to put on a smug and arrogant persona and they are much better adjusted in life.