At times I have shamed myself before others, and, at times I have shamed myself in my own eyes. I would not care to describe those times for you. They are my private shames, and I shall keep them that way. I acknowledge them to myself, however, and in so doing, I reinforce the will that is my wall that protects me from living shamefully. Thus, I remain a proud man.
Pride is a matter of self-respect.
Over a period of years, or over a lifetime of years, one develops a vision of the sort of person one would like to be, and then one invests much effort into being that sort of person. Sacrifices of time, money, and short-term pleasure are often required. One tells the truth when a lie would be profitable. One pays a fair price where a hard-nosed deal is within reach. One stands by a past commitment that it would be convenient to forget.