On the virtue of timidity

I admit, there are times when I think "is young Samson a bit, well, timid?" I mean, he is afraid of the vacuum cleaner. Even when it's not on. I'm not kidding: I've seen him look at the silent blue appliance from across the room with pure Conradian horror.

And yet, there's something to be said for a cautious child. I mean, would you want your kid to grow up to be this guy?