Pride is the beginning of sin. And what is pride but the…
““Pride is the beginning of sin. And what is pride but the craving for undue exaltation? And this is undue exaltation - when the soul abandons Him to whom it ought to cleave as its end, and becomes a kind of end to itself.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Pride is the root of sin, a desire for excessive self‑importance that replaces devotion to the divine with self‑worship.
In simple terms: Pride replaces God with self as the ultimate goal.
Key Takeaway
Pride leads to spiritual alienation.
Themes
hubris
spirituality
moral decay
self‑idolatry
Mood
solemn
reflective
cautionary
Type
philosophical
theological
maxim
When to use this quote
- religious contemplation
- ethical counseling
- personal crisis
- spiritual teaching
Key Concepts
sin
exaltation
cleaving
end goal
Practical Applications
- theological education
- moral counseling
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to make oneself the end?
- How can humility counteract pride?