It is also important to be extremely arrogant and not know your limitations in the sense of Donald Knuth: Had he known his limitations and the time it will take

It is also important to be extremely arrogant and not know your limitations in the sense of Donald Knuth: Had he known his limitations and the time it will take he would never have started Tex or TAOCP, in his own words. Non knowing my limitations was essential for me as well. When I was a kid I saw a world full of possibilities and I could do much better than anybody else. It was not that easy, it was painful and I needed help for getting things done. But if I had not been the arrogant bastard I was I would have never started the things that later finished for pride. I would also had not improved my skills in the way that I did because I had to give what I promised.