The Hubris Factor in Leadership

Abstract

In Greco-Roman mythology, the tale of the mortal Arachne is a story of hubris, serving as a warning to all that to offend the gods has consequences. Arachne, the protagonist in the story, was highly gifted in the art of weaving. Not only were her finished products beautiful to look at, but the very act of her weaving was a sight to behold. So remarkable were her works that observers often commented that she must have been trained by the very patron goddess of weaving, Athena herself. But Arachne belittled these comments. She disliked being named inferior to the goddess and proclaimed that Athena herself could not do better than her.