To be smugly pleased with oneself; to be excessively self-satisfied, often over minor achievements or perceived superiority; to revel in one's own perceived accomplishments.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Western Han Dynasty, Empress Dowager Dou, mother of Emperor Wu, sidelined Dou Ying. Dou Ying feigned illness and returned home.
Later, when the rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms of Wu and Chu broke out, Emperor Jing appointed Dou Ying as a grand general to suppress the rebellion. Dou Ying showed little interest in the gold and silver bestowed by the emperor.
After quelling the rebellion, Dou Ying was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wei Qi. Empress Dowager Dou changed her opinion of him and intended to have him appointed prime minister. However, Emperor Jing, noticing Dou Ying's smug self-satisfaction, decided against it.