“Pride is one of the seven deadly sins; but it cannot be the pride of a mother in her children, for that is a compound of two cardinal virtues – faith and hope.”
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About this quote
Read it sharp: not all pride is corrupt. Some pride comes from responsible love and a real belief in another person's future. Use the distinction to test motives — does pride lift someone or just feed your ego? If it genuinely springs from faith and hope, back it with honest support; if it's vanity, admit it and change course.
When to use it
- At a parent-teacher meeting, remind yourself: pride in a child's effort is faith and hope, so praise progress but set clear expectations.
- When congratulating a young colleague, make your praise practical — show belief in their potential, then demand the work that matches it.
- If you catch yourself boasting about a child's success, pause and ask whether that pride helps them grow or quiets your own insecurity.
- Use the line as a personal checkpoint: when pride rises, decide whether to turn it into support or to correct your behavior and apologize.

