User blog comment:Blackendedsoul/Allegations VS Facts/@comment-1595565-20130516211338

It seems like you're mistaking egoism as truth. Krieg might have said he was the strongest in the world, but considering the buzz he had going from a winning streak, i doubt he actually meant it, especially considering how Mihawk wiped the floor with his ass earlier. Everyone gets that kind of an ego from time to time. I know I've called myself the strongest or smartest in the world and didn't mean it, but I had something going for me that made me think that. Just because he says stuff like that doesn't mean he meant it. Now, before I go on, I'd like to point out that this applies only to declarations made in the present. That being said, don't try to bust my chops by trying to argue that Luffy and company might not actually mean what they say when they declare their goals. That's just childish and silly. Anyway, when talking about stuff like this, you can't use the one declaring whatever it is as the primary source for verification. People have egos, which lead to bias. You should instead look at what others who aren't associated with the thing in question say about it. If Whitebeard were the only one to declare himself the strongest in the world, it would be a lot less believable than some random guy on an island saying it. Reputation is what most people go by, and the holder of that reputation has an image to maintain. So, whenever possible or appropriate, the holder tries to uphold his or her image. Whitebeard is supposed to be the strongest man in the world, so he just might wreck a couple of Marine squadrons from 90 miles away to prove it once in a while. If the hype overshadows the person, word will get out and that person will eventually be seen their true self once the hype dies down.