I've only scanned this interview with Robert Novak, and I'm very much looking forward to reading it in its entirety. But one bit caught my eye. In describing the source and extent of his professional confidence, Novak says (emphasis mine):

It starts if you're an only child. You're told you're wonderful, you can do no wrong. My mother always gave me the impression I was going to be something successful in the world. She didn't know what, and she certainly wasn't happy with the career path I took, but she never criticized me.

A person with a mother like that ends up with a great deal of confidence, which is a good thing to have if you're going to be the kind of journalist I was. If you're just going to report on car wrecks and interview the victims, you don't need much confidence. But if you're going to make proclamations on the state of the world, it helps to have confidence -- even if that confidence is unwarranted.

I love this! I'm no only child, and I have no real opportunity to "make proclamations on the state of the world" (or proclamations to which anyone listens anyway), but ... let's just say that I understand what Novak is describing here. Big time.

(Mom, you rule!)

(Image courtesy of Townhall)