Pride is founded not on the sense of happiness, but on the sense of power.
William HazlittRead
A proud man is satisfied with his own good opinion, and does not seek to make converts to it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the nature of pride and self-satisfaction, indicating that a proud individual does not need others to validate their opinions.
In this quote, William Hazlitt suggests that a proud person finds contentment in their self-assessment, without feeling the need to persuade others to share their views. This implies that true confidence comes from within, rather than from external affirmation or approval. Essentially, it speaks to the idea of internal validation versus seeking validation from the outside world.
Themes
PrideSelf-SatisfactionConfidenceOpinionValidation
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about self-awareness and confidence.
More from William Hazlitt
All quotes →The world loves to be amused by hollow professions, to be deceived by flattering appearances, to live in a state of hallucination; and can forgive everything but the plain, downright, simple, honest truth.
William HazlittRead
Our repugnance to death increases in proportion to our consciousness of having lived in vain.
William HazlittRead
We can bear to be deprived of everything but our self-conceit.
William HazlittRead
There are few things in which we deceive ourselves more than in the esteem we profess to entertain for our firends. It is little better than a piece of quackery. The truth is, we think of them as we please, that is, as they please or displease us.
William HazlittRead
Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.
William HazlittRead
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