Ego is not arrogance, cockiness, brashness.
The Ego is the outer shell.
The Ego is a defense mechanism.
The Ego is the pretense.
The Ego thinks, reacts, acts.
The Ego makes decisions.
The Ego is fueled by fear.
The Ego hides the fear.
The Ego protects the fear.
The Ego preserves its own survival.
The Ego needs the fear to survive.