But the tradition of Western self-criticism is not a modern weakness; it is an ancient strength. Homer’s Iliad—a foundational text of the Western literary canon, composed in the late eighth century BC—is a masterclass in humanising the enemy. By praising Rome’s enemies, he holds a mirror to what he sees as his own society’s moral decline. This mindset formed a cornerstone of Western resilience—a culture that thrives on self-criticism, not self-congratulation, a culture that is alert to its faults and resolute in correcting them. Let us, by all means, continue the tradition of self-doubt and self-criticism that have characterised Western civilisation from its beginning.