Am I reading into this or is it a red flag?

I think he's using the word "inspired" in a loose way, not necessarily meaning that HE is especially awesome and is acting as some kind of supernatural muse, but just that he has successfully encouraged some young people to become interested in poetry. In the last case it sounds like the visitor to the bookshop had to pick a poem and your friend helped him find one he especially liked, but that's OK. It's interesting that he's described this as "a gift" (I assume he means a natural talent, rather than a "gift" to him in terms of satisfaction and fulfilment from his work, unless he's using American English) rather than an opportunity or an ability. Maybe he is an especially talented teacher, or maybe he just cares a bit and was in the right place at the right time. Does his language otherwise seem normal to you or kind of florid / overdone?

If this is the only possible "red flag" you've seen, and you otherwise enjoy his company, I wouldn't break it off just for that.

Well he certainly did inspire people

he said when he had been teaching English, he got young people to enjoy poetry etc. He seemed oblivious to how arrogant this sounded

I'm not seeing what's arrogant about that. Many people will have never studied poetry so they don't really get it. Once they learn, they can grow to love it. What's wrong with that?

“Im a good footballer. I scored the most goals for my team last year and I was told I could have played professionally”

”I run my own business. We’ve just won a really big contract and its meant I can take on more staff”

Providing these comments are facts, aren’t they just describing someone’s achievements. Why is your blokes comment any different?

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what he said.

This. Brits are meant to be self-deprecating! 😜
I think I’d have laughed it off and said ‘clearly your modesty matches your ability to inspire.’ And then kept an eye on the situation. If he continues to be a big head, I might end it.

Is he not British? The reason i ask is that the Brits tend to be self deprecating, so that when someone promotes themselves often they can be seen as big-headed. I often heard the expression that self promotion is no recommendation though!!!

Inspiring children is what teachers do though, if they are good? I don't see what he has said that is wrong here. If your ex or another person said they were good at their job would that be arrogant? Also I'm unclear if he is saying HE has a gift/talent or that he enjoys inspiring children to read ie it's a gift to him, but either way I think you're being rather unfair. He clearly is fairly talented if he manages to make anything from selling books, why should he pretend he's not good at it?

All he is saying here is that he enjoys his work because it gives him an opportunity to introduce young people to poetry. I don't know how you managed to turn it into a red flag.

I wouldn't call it quits yet. But I would be on the lookout to see if it's a pattern. If he makes a habit of telling you how special he is it would get very boring. Plus he might start suggesting that he is somehow superior to you.

Keep your whiskers twitching.

Is English his first language? Its something that would sound arrogant and self absorbed if an English person said it but not if a South American (for instance) said it

An odd turn of phrase. As someone involved in education we dont tend to go around patting ourself on the back for inspiring a kid! Monitor.

If you consider this to be a red flag, you're going to have a very difficult time ahead!

He sounds too pompous for my taste but I wouldn’t call it a red flag.

He's a teacher, a red flag in itself. Expect him to complain incessantly about workload etc.

It depends on tone and context for sure, he could mean that because he was a teacher, he has been able to inspire lots of people to do something, and that has been a gift. I think you really have to look at all the other ways he speaks about himself to settle on what you think here.

On the other hand, if he is going to think a lot of himself it's very telling that this is what he's proud of rather than pulling women or always winning a fight or something.

this is not in itself a red flag. If it bothers you keep an eye on it of course

As a teacher, it's a tough job and I certainly hope to pass on some enthusiasm for my subject or tobe able to inspire something, but it's a gift of the job if it works not my gift. Could that be what he meant?

Jesus wept.

Meh. Everyone has a talent of some description. If he knows his, and uses it for the good what's the harm. Might be a bit suspicious if he never shuts up about it!

He sounds very full of himself, which would be a major irritation for me.
Or maybe he is just trying too hard to impress you.

I think it depends on the tone and the context. Maybe he does have a gift for inspiring people and he's proud of it. Why shouldn't he tell you about it? on the other hand he might have overly high opinions about himself which will come across as arrogant. I'm not sure we can say on here which it is on the basis of a single remark.

I don't think it's a red flag but he is either very full of himself or really does just enjoy inspiring young people which as an ex teacher I get .

Huh?

Am I missing something?

What exactly is it that he said that is a red flag?