Pride
From Free net encyclopedia
- This article is about a feeling of believing in oneself. For other meanings see Pride (disambiguation).
Pride refers to a strong sense (or desire) of self-respect, a refusal to be humiliated as well as joy in the accomplishments of oneself or a person, group, or object that one identifies with.
In Christianity, pride (or vanity or arrogance) is the essentially competitive and excessive belief in one's own abilities that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God, or the worth which God sees in others. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is listed as one of the seven deadly sins, as superbia. Pride is also condemned in Hinduism. Ravana, an evil king who was killed by Rama, avatar of Vishnu, exhibited deadly sins of pride and lust. In spirituality pride is linked to the local "I" and ego, as distinct from the nonlocal "us".
In Islam, pride is also forbidden. According to a narration from Prophet Muhammad, he said: "He in whose heart there is as much as a grain of pride will not enter paradise," and a man remarked: "A man likes his garment to be beautiful and his sandals to be beautiful." The Holy Prophet (pbuh) replied: "God, Most High, is beautiful and likes beauty; pride is disdaining what is true and despising people" (Sahih Muslim).
In Germany the word Pride is associated only with the Nazi regime, so this word is a taboo, and also the fact to be proud of one's country is not as natural as in other countries.
Some languages distinguish between the two senses of pride; in French, self-respect is fierté and vanity is orgueuil.
Secondary pride is a little-known but often felt variant of pride. The pride people feel for what their ancestors, children, or country has done is classified as secondary or vicarious pride.
Hubris, or excessive pride, was usually the defining trait that lead to the tragic hero's tragic downfall according to Aristotle.