Men consumed by it need to be yet told of its existence in their hearts. It is the very nature of pride to impose upon its blind subject. Thus are multitudes deceived by it in all ages. Because, perhaps, it has not the outward signs in their cases by which it is often manifested, thousands deny its existence in their hearts. For it is not the dress, the ornaments, the decorations, which persons usually take as the sure signs of pride, or as pride itself, of which we are speaking.
Pride is in the heart, and it manifests itself variously in the life and habit of men.
It never can be an outside thing. It has its abode within us, and thence works out in the life. And ruin the man, too, unless they are eradicated. Few passions need to be more carefully guarded against than pride, both in view of the facts above stated and because pride has a great power for evil in communities and in societies of whatever character they may be. The man is almost hopelessly lost who has become really proud, and he becomes a cause of contentions, quarrels, schisms and discord generally.