The Objects and Causes of Pride and Humility
Table of Contents
Pride [ego] and humility [shame] are:
- simple and uniform impressions
- directly contrary, but have the self as the object
The self is the succession of related ideas and impressions that we are intimately aware of.
We feel elated by pride [ego] or dejected with humility the larger our idea of our self is.
All other objects comprehended by the mind are always considered with a view to ourselves.
Otherwise they would never be able to excite these passions.
When there is no self, there is no pride or humility.
But the self can never:
- be their cause
- be enough alone to trigger them
But if the object of pride [ego] and humility [shame] were also the cause of pride [ego] and humility [shame], then that object could never produce pride [ego] and humility [shame].
If it could produce pride [ego] and humility [shame] by itself, then pride [ego] and humility [shame] would cancel each other.
- A man can never be proud and humble at the same time.
Pride [ego] and humility [shame] happen alternately depending on their causes.
- If these 2 encounter, the stronger one annihilates the other.
- Only the superior one continues to operate on the mind.
Our selves alone cannot produce pride [ego] and humility [shame].
If our self did produce pride [ego] and humility [shame] by itself then both would cancel each other.
Therefore, there is something between the self and the thing that triggers pride [ego] and humility [shame].
Pride is caused by:
- every valuable quality of the mind, imagination, judgment, memory or disposition
- wit, good-sense, learning, courage, justice, integrity
Humility is caused by their opposites.
These passions are not confined to the mind.
- They extend their view to the body.
A man may be proud of his beauty, strength, agility, good mein, address in dancing, riding, etc.
These objects are related to us.
Our country, family, children, relations, riches, houses, gardens, horses, dogs, and clothes may become a cause of pride or humility.