Nothing can be more unphilosophical than to be positive or dogmatical on any subject.—When men are the most sure and arrogant, they are commonly the most mistaken and have there given reins to passion without that proper deliberation and suspense, which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
We rise in glory as we sink in pride.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
I frankly confess I have a respect for family pride.—If it be a prejudice, it is prejudice in its most picturesque shape.—But I hold it is connected with some of the noblest feelings in our nature.
—Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802–38) English Poet, Novelist
By profession I am a Soldier and take pride in that fact, but I am prouder to be a father.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
The pride of the peacock is the glory of God.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
Pride, avarice, and envy are in every home.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
A self-made man? Yes, and one who worships his creator.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
If I had only one sermon to preach it would be a sermon against pride.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
The proud man is troubled at the slightest wind.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Pride is the ape of charity, in show not much unlike, but somewhat fuller of action. They are two parallels, never but asunder; charity feeds the poor, so does pride; charity builds an hospital, so does pride. In this they differ: charity gives her glory to God; pride takes her glory from man.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Pride is the common forerunner of a fall. It was the devil’s sin, and the devil’s ruin; and has been, ever since, the devil’s stratagem, who, like an expert wrestler, usually gives a man a lift before he gives him a throw.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
My pride fell with my fortunes.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
To be proud of learning is the greatest ignorance.
—Jeremy Taylor
Labor wants also pride and joy in doing good work, a sense of making or doing something beautiful or useful – to be treated with dignity and respect as brother and sister
—Thorstein Veblen (1857–1929) American Economist, Social Critic
We mortals, men and women, devour many a disappointment between breakfast and dinner time; keep back the tears and look a little pale about the lips, and in answer to inquiries say, “Oh, nothing!” Pride helps us; and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our own hurts—not to hurt others.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Of all the marvelous works of God, perhaps the one angels view with the most supreme astonishment, is a proud man.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
You cannot hold your head high with your hand out.
—Yiddish Proverb
Every time I see an Erie Railroad engine bearing the name of its faithful driver a thrill goes through me, for I know that the man guiding it has won this rare honor by many years of the most loyal and efficient service. Who will argue that only public men and corporation heads are entitled to have their names emblazoned on the scroll of honor? All workmen care about is money, you say? Wrong. Workers are made of exactly the same stuff as generals or senators or presidents or governors or industrial leaders. It is just as fitting to honor the worthiest of our wage earners as it is to honor others.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
It is a beggar’s pride that he is not a thief
—Japanese Proverb
There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. And at the same time I have very seldom met anyone, who was not a Christian, who showed the slightest mercy to it in others. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.
The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility. You may remember, when I was talking about sexual morality, I warned you that the centre of Christian morals did not lie there. Well, now, we have come to the centre. According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
I will give you a definition of a proud man: he is a man who has neither vanity nor wisdom—one filled with hatreds cannot be vain, neither can he be wise.
—John Keats (1795–1821) English Poet
A Decalogue of Canons for observation in practical life. 1. Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day. 2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. 3. Never spend your money before you have it. 4. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you. 5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold. 6. We never repent of having eaten too little. 7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly. 8. How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened. 9. Take things always by their smooth handle. 10. When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
As Plato entertained some friends in a room where there was a couch richly ornamented, Diogenes came in very dirty, as usual, and getting upon the couch, and trampling on it, said, “I trample upon the pride of Plato.” Plato mildly answered, “But with greater pride, Diogenes!”
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
The infinitely little have a pride infinitely great.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
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
I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Discipline is based on pride, on meticulous attention to details, and on mutual respect and confidence. Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of the goal or the fear of failure.
—Gary Ryan Blair
Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up.
—Jesse Jackson (b.1941) American Baptist Civil Rights Activist, Minister
There is a diabolical trio existing in the natural man, implacable, inextinguishable, cooperative and consentaneous, pride, envy, and hate; pride that makes us fancy we deserve all the goods that others possess; envy that some should be admired while we are overlooked; and hate, because all that is bestowed on others, diminishes the sum we think due to ourselves.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
The disesteem and contempt of others is inseparable from pride. It is hardly possible to overvalue ourselves but by undervaluing our neighbors.
—Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–74) English Statesman, Historian
There is nothing that will kill a man so soon as having nobody to find fault with but himself.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The last time I saw him he was walking down lover’s lane holding his own hand.
—Fred Allen (1894–1956) American Humorist, Radio Personality
There is an awful lot of negative energy out there and some of it is directed at us by other people. But other people’s reactions and opinions are simply other people’s reactions and opinions. They are having their own experience and none of it has anything to do with you—it does not make you wrong, guilty, bad, unworthy, famous, loveable, or important. If you take it personally and take on the poison of another’s words, it becomes a very negative agreement you have with yourself. What anybody thinks about you, or says about you, is really about them. Not taking it personally allows you to be in relationship with anyone and not get trapped in their stuff. This agreement can also pertain to things that we take personally that cause us to go into upset.
—Miguel Angel Ruiz (b.1952) Mexican Spiritualist Author
The proud man can learn humility, but he will be proud of it.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Ostentation is the signal flag of hypocrisy.—The charlatan is verbose and assumptive; the Pharisee is ostentatious, because he is a hypocrite.—Pride is the master sin of the devil, and the devil is the father of lies.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
The Messiah will not come until haughtiness shall have ceased among men.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Cast out pride and vanity; have no thought of trying to rule over others or of outdoing them.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
To find oneself jilted is a blow to one’s pride. One must do one’s best to forget it and if one doesn’t succeed, at least one must pretend to.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
Pride and poverty don’t get along, but often live together.
—Common Proverb
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
The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, and pride and arrogance.
—Samuel Butler
Conceit is God’s gift to little men.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
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 artificial and humility makes us real
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
Has God forgotten all I have done for Him.
—Louis XIV of France (1638–1715) King of France
Pride is pleasure arising from a man’s thinking too highly of himself.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
No man has ever had a point of pride that was not injurious to him.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The seat of pride is in the heart, and only there; and if it be not there, it is neither in the look, nor in the clothes.
—Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–74) English Statesman, Historian