Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves.
—Emily Bronte (1818–48) English Novelist, Poet
Conceit is God’s gift to little men.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
There is no cure for the pride of a virtuous nation but pure religion.
—Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) American Christian Theologian
The proud man is troubled at the slightest wind.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Though Diogenes lived in a tub, there might have been, for aught I know, as much pride under his rags, as in the fine-spun garments of the divine Plato.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
O world, how apt the poor are to be proud!
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Pride, as it is compounded of the vanity and ill nature that dispose men to admire themselves, and contemn other men, retains its vigor longer than any other vice, and rarely expires but with life itself. Without the sovereign influence of God’s grace, men very rarely put off all the trappings of their pride till they who are about them put on their winding-sheet.
—Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–74) English Statesman, Historian
You who are ashamed of your poverty, and blush for your calling, are a snob; as are you who boast of your pedigree, or are proud of your wealth.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
My family pride is something inconceivable. I can’t help it. I was born sneering.
—W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) English Dramatist, Librettist, Poet, Illustrator
With the pride of the artist, you must blow against the walls of every power that exists the small trumpet of your defiance.
—Norman Mailer (1923–2007) American Novelist Essayist
Pride makes us esteem ourselves; vanity to desire the esteem of others.—It is just to say as Swift has done, that a proud man is too proud to be vain.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
Pride and poverty don’t get along, but often live together.
—Common Proverb
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
You cannot hold your head high with your hand out.
—Yiddish Proverb
The nobler the blood the less the pride.
—Danish Proverb
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
A penny in an empty box rattles loudly.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Pride and humiliation hand in hand
Walked with them through the world where’er they went;
Trampled and beaten were they as the sand,
And yet unshaken as the continent.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
A proud man never shows his pride so much as when he is civil.
—George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1746–1816) British Nobleman, Politician
Pride is still aiming at the best houses: Men would be angels, angels would be gods. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; aspiring to be angels men rebel.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
He that is proud eats up himself; pride is his glass, his trumpet, his chronicle; and whatever praises itself but in the deed, devours the deed in the praise.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Man, proud man, dressed in a little brief authority, ignorant of what thou art most assured, play such fantastic tricks before high heaven, as make the angels weep.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
He who gives himself airs of importance exhibits the credentials of impotence.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
A man given to pride is usually proud of the wrong thing.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Every man has a right to be conceited until he is successful.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Pride comes before a fall.
—Common Proverb
Whenever nature leaves a hole in a person’s mind, she generally plasters it over with a thick coat of self-conceit.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Pride is seldom delicate, it will please itself with very mean advantages; and envy feels not its own happiness, but when it may be compared with the misery of others.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
There is this paradox in pride—it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from becoming so.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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