Subjunctive?
 

I have seen "any self-respecting _________" as "cualquier ________ que se precie" and wonder why subjunctive here. The assumption is "any ________ who definitely has self-respect," not "any _________ who might have self-respect."

Is it because of the presence of "any"?

Same question for "no self-respecting _________," which I have also seen using subjunctive rather that indicative.

:thinking: It seems to me the case of a generic context where the subjunctive is induced by the "instruction" on what is necessary to flaunt someone's qualities, and yes, the fact that we don't know exactly who the subject is.

- Cualquier melómano que se precie de serlo, debe conocer a Bach.
- Una empresa que se jacte de seria, debe tener una oficina bien conocida.
- El individuo que se ostente como médico, debe tener un título universitario.

A particular case is when the subjunctive is triggered by the word "quien", like in "Levante la mano quien se precie de ser justo".


If you don't use the subjunctive, you need a sentence that introduces some actual certainty on the subject and what they brag about:

- Juan es un chico que se jacta de ser muy inteligente.
- La agencia de empleos, que se precia de ser la mejor, tiene sucursales por toda la ciudad.
- Tengo un disco de Lazlo Lozla, que se ostenta como el mejor violinista del mundo.


In the case of "Nadie que se precie de", the subjunctive is induced by the negative:

- Nadie que se precie de filántropo abandona a su amigo.
- Ninguna empresa que se ostente como exitosa hace publicidad contra sus competidores.


Final note: Another way to say "self-respecting", is "que se respete (a sí mismo)".

- Cualquier melómano que se respete conoce a Bach.
- Ningún filántropo que se respete abandona a su amigo.

preciarse is a very proud thing, so it is a bit questionable to do it from a moral standpoint; or at least it is tasteless . Subjunctive turns such characterization uncertain, killing any pretentiousness in it (not all of them but just those ones who se precian)

Un melómano que se precie de serlo


Un verdadero melómano :ne:un melómano que se precia de serlo

because being -improperly- proud of it is not a part of the definition.