I've noticed everything that I might take pride in kind of breaks down when I analyze it. Satisfaction, sure - I can be glad I have this and happy that I chose to do that. But pride doesn't really make sense.
I can't really take pride in my intelligence. I didn't go to Walmart and pick out the brain I have. It's just the brain I was given. I didn't even work for it.
I can't really take pride in having more than someone else. We both lose it all when we die. Besides, stuff is just stuff. I can't justify feeling bad about not having as much as somebody else either.
I can't really take pride in being better at something that somebody else. I didn't choose how to make myself with the abilities I have. If you give one child five blocks and another child ten blocks, can the second child be proud because he can build a taller tower? I also can't be jealous of somebody who is better at something than I am. He was given more blocks for that particular tower.
I guess that's why "vain" means both "prideful" and "totally useless."
I can't really take pride in my intelligence. I didn't go to Walmart and pick out the brain I have. It's just the brain I was given. I didn't even work for it.
I can't really take pride in having more than someone else. We both lose it all when we die. Besides, stuff is just stuff. I can't justify feeling bad about not having as much as somebody else either.
I can't really take pride in being better at something that somebody else. I didn't choose how to make myself with the abilities I have. If you give one child five blocks and another child ten blocks, can the second child be proud because he can build a taller tower? I also can't be jealous of somebody who is better at something than I am. He was given more blocks for that particular tower.
I guess that's why "vain" means both "prideful" and "totally useless."
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