In an NPR interview, David Brooks, author of The Road to Character, observes how differently we deal with promoting our own success. Brooks said:

The day after Japan surrendered in 1945 and World War II ended, singer Bing Crosby appeared on the radio program Command Performance. "Well it looks like this is it," he said. "What can you say at a time like this? You can't throw your (hat) in the air—that's for a run-of-the-mill holiday. I guess all anybody can do is thank God it's over."

I was really struck at this supreme moment of American triumph that they weren't beating their chests. They weren't super proud of themselves; they were deeply humble. And I found that so beautiful and so moving. And I thought there's really something to admire in that public culture.

Shortly after studying about what happened after World War II, Brooks watched a pro football game. He observed something very different:

A quarterback threw a short pass to a wide receiver, who was tackled almost immediately for a two-yard gain. The defensive player did what all professional athletes do these days in moments of personal accomplishment. He did a self-puffing victory dance, as the camera lingered. It occurred to me that I had just watched more self-celebration after a two-yard gain than I had heard after the United States won World War II.