It is harsh in the sense that it is a partly pretty unflattering description of his personality, not his competence. If a teacher described my daughter in such terms, I would be worried indeed!

I find it fascinating that his egotism and lust for glory/power was so well developed already at the age of 16 (or 17). It's like he already had much of what it takes to become a warmongering dictator hellbent on conquering the world or die trying as a teen.