Hubris

It would appear that hubris, like energy, cannot be created or destroyed. Six months ago the world's financial markets were incredibly easy places to make money - anyone could throw a dart at the board and enjoy the upside. Many investors who did so told the rest of the world as much. Now, as markets slide, it's the slow and cautious tortoise (or the squirrels depending on you choice of fable) that are having the last laugh.

Maybe there is a lesson here, that excessive hubris coupled with an unfortunate turn of events is often accompanied by proportionate amounts of schadenfreude.