“The free man does not feign ignorance in order to attract men to himself.”Baruch Spinoza · Etica · 1677 · Partea a IV-a, apendicele, capitolul 12
Hiding what you know to be liked isn't modesty, it's manipulation born of fear.
Spinoza sees false modesty as a form of manipulation: whoever pretends not to know wants others to feel comfortable and become dependent on him. The free man needs no such tactics, because his worth does not come from others' approval. An expert who downplays what he knows in order to be liked betrays fear, not wisdom.
Why it matters It lets you show your competence openly, without disguising it for fear of being envied.