Having read this article, numerous other articles, heard from Google Employees in large and small settings, and knowing a few Google Interns, I can say one thing with <i>absolute</i> confidence.<p>Google Engineers <i>know</i> that they're the best engineers, ever.<p>I've always found it offputting, but maybe I'm just jealous or something.<p>edit: Worth adding that this is a common thing among many engineers.  Also, I know and like a number of Google interns (and engineers).  All that said though, the one expression I've heard more than anything else is "Google hires smart people".