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The admirable kind of pride is that, when the wise man prides himself on his wisdom, and the just man on his works, he should acknowledge, in these things, the great beneficence of the Creator, and should rejoice on account of these gifts. Such pride in these gifts will then induce him to increase them and make good use of them, and to be meek with all around him; and to rejoice with his fellows, and be eager for their glory, and to cover over their folly, and to speak in praise of them, to love them, and to rejoice over them, and to be careful of their honour. Then, also, his own good deeds will appear so small in his eyes, that he will be continually striving to increase them. He will be humble because of his sense of inability to attain to the realisation of his ideal in respect to them, and he will be full of gratitude to God for giving him these precious qualities. Such pride is helpful, and not harmful, to humility.
Source Duties of the Heart, The Pride Consistent with Humility, §3 · 📖 Read the full passage
✨ To meditate on today
According to Bahya ibn Paquda, a medieval Jewish sage and author of the Duties of the Heart, there is a good kind of pride: rejoicing in one’s talents while recognising them as gifts from God; it makes us humble and grateful, and moves us to rejoice in the happiness of others and to care for their honour. Today, name a talent you have received, give thanks for it, then put it at the service of someone, rejoicing in their own successes.
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