On Pride

C. S. Lewis’ writing on the subject of pride has always stood out to me, but he has a rival in Howard Thurman. From Thurman:

“Pride and arrogance are always with us seeking to exert their pernicious influence in what we say and how we say it, in what we do and how we do it.  No one of us escapes.  Often we find ourselves most completely influenced by pride when surest that we are most self-effacing and humble.  For the subtlest pose is that of humility and apparent willingness to be considered least of all.”

That last sentence is a masterful use of words, so piercing, so convicting – “For the subtlest pose is that of humility and apparent willingness to be considered least of all.” 

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Now, a less serious addendum that speaks to how my mind works, or doesn’t:

That said, Lewis and Thurman get a run for their money from the great Austin Lounge Lizards and these lines from their classic, Another Stupid Song About Texas:

“By God we’re so darn proud to be from Texas

Even of our pride we’re proud, and we’re proud of that pride, too

Our pride about our home state  is the proudest pride indeed

And we’re proud to be Americans, until we can secede.”