The tall poppy syndrome describes the cultural phenomenon of mocking people who think highly of themselves, "cutting down the tall poppy". Common in Australia and New Zealand, it is seen by many as self-deprecating and by others as promoting modesty.
== Etymology ==
The concept originates from accounts in Herodotus' Histories (Book 5, 92f), Aristotle's Politics (1284a), and Livy's Ab Urbe Condita Libri, Book I. with reversed roles, referring to Periander's advice to Thrasybulus via a herald.
The specific reference to poppies occurs in Livy's account of the tyrannical Roman king, Lucius Tarquinius...