Vanity is a static thing. It puts it faith in what it has, and is easily wounded. Pride is active, and satisfied only with what it can do, hence accustomed not to feel small stings.
Interpretation
Vanity focuses on external validation while pride is rooted in personal achievement.
This quote by Jacques Barzun highlights the fundamental differences between vanity and pride. Vanity is characterized by a reliance on external validation and material possessions, making it fragile and easily hurt by criticism. In contrast, pride is associated with self-worth derived from one's actions and accomplishments, allowing it to withstand challenges and not feel diminished by minor setbacks. Thus, Barzun suggests that a robust sense of pride is more fulfilling and resilient than the superficial nature of vanity.
In practice
In a motivational speech about self-acceptance and inner strength.
Let us face a pluralistic world in which there are no universal churches, no single remedy for all diseases, no one way to teach or write or sing, no magic diet, no world poets, and no chosen races, but only the wretched and wonderfully diversified human race.
Machines are admirable and tyrannize only with the user's consent. Where, then, is the enemy? Not where the machine gives relief from drudgery but where human judgment abdicates. The smoothest machine-made product of the age is the organization man, for even the best organizing principle tends to corrupt, and the mechanical principle corrupts absolutely.
In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.
I can only think that the book is read because it deals with the difficulties of schooling, which do not change. Please note: the difficulties, not the problems. Problems are solved or disappear with the revolving times. Difficulities remain. It will always be difficult to teach well, to learn accurately; to read, write, and count readily and competently; to acquire a sense of history and start one's education or anothers.
Convince yourself that you are working in clay, not marble, on paper not eternal bronze: Let that first sentence be as stupid as it wishes.
The world has long observed that small acts of immorality, if repeated, will destroy character. It is equally manifest, though never said, that uttering nonsense and half-truth without cease ends by destroying Intellect
The weariness of the cell is the vigour of the organism.
Speak the truth do not become angered and give when asked, even be it a little. By these three conditions one goes to the presence of the gods.
Lincoln's appeal to "the better angels of our nature" failed to avert a fratricidal war. But the compassionate wisdom of Lincoln's first and second inaugurals bequeathed to the Union, cemented with blood, a moral heritage which, when drawn upon in times of stress and strife, is sure to find specific ways and means to surmount difficulties that may appear to be insurmountable.
Our entire lives, we're inundated with media and messaging that tells us that to be incarcerated is to be criminal and to be criminal is to be a bad person.
The word 'Islam' means 'peace.' The word 'Muslim' means 'one who surrenders to God.' But the press makes us seem like haters.
Action is consolatory. It is the enemy of thought and the friend of flattering illusions.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.