Man in the Mirror Summary, chapter 16

PRIDE

"I am the greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round!" Muhammad Ali

The Problem
Men want and need to feel good about themselves.
Pride is a sin of comparison in which we compare our strengths to the other fellow's weaknesses.

Two Types of Pride
Pride Type 1. Rather than testing our self worth by comparison to others, we are encouraged to self-examination.
Pride Type 2. A feeling of superiority brought about by looking down on others.

Two Types of Humility
Humility Type 1. Not thinking more highly of yourself than you ought.
Humility Type 2. Thinking too lowly of yourself. Self- deprecation.

Keeping the Right Balance
We don't look down on others, but we have tested our actions, and take pride without comparing ourself to others.
We don't think more highly of ourselves than we ought to, but we soberly think well of ourselves.

Sources of Pride
Too much success can cause us to forget who and what we are.
A man who does not fear God becomes so proud that he cannot detect his own sinfulness.
We put a great deal of effort into making ourselves feel important.

Symptoms
One symptom of pride is a dead giveaway -- constant critiquing of others.
Another is blindness to the needs of others.
Unwillingness to associate with people of lower position is yet another symptom.