Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 8

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः | अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ||

bhavān bhīṣmaś ca karṇaś ca kṛpaś ca samitiñjayaḥ aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca saumadattis tathaiva ca

Yourself, Bhishma, Karna, and Kripa—always victorious in battle; Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta as well.

Duryodhana lists his champions: Drona, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, Ashvatthama, and others. Notice the oddity—he's naming his commanders to Drona, their own leader. Why tell someone what they already know? This isn't information; it's reassurance. He's talking himself up, reminding himself of his strengths. We do this when anxious: recite our advantages not to inform others, but to convince ourselves. The repetition reveals inner doubt dressed as confidence. True confidence doesn't need constant affirmation—anxiety does.