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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, author of the Duties of the Heart, there is a rightful pride: rejoicing in one’s qualities while recognizing them as gifts of the Creator; it then moves us to put them at the service of others, to rejoice in their happiness, to cover their faults, and it nourishes humility and gratitude. Today, name one quality you have received, thank God for it, then use it to do good to someone or to speak well of them.
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