---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hate pride, but if I were going to be…"
description: "\"I hate pride, but if I were going to be proud of anything it would have to be something I'd done myself. Race pride is kind of stupid.\" — Carroll O'Connor"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/carroll-o-connor-19438_be-proud_i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-p_30459.jpg"
---

#  I hate pride, but if I were going to be proud of anything…

![“I hate pride, but if I were going to be proud of anything it would have to be something I'd done myself. Race pride is kind of stupid.” quote by Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/carroll-o-connor-19438_be-proud_i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-p_30459.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/carroll-o-connor-19438_be-proud_i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-p_30459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/carroll-o-connor-19438_be-proud_i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-p_30459.jpg)

> “I hate pride, but if I were going to be proud of anything it would have to be something I'd done myself. Race pride is kind of stupid.”

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker rejects vanity but values personal achievement, dismissing collective racial pride as irrational.

**In simple terms:** Personal achievement over group pride

Key Takeaway

Earn pride through one's own effort

Themes

individualism self-reliance pride race identity skepticism

Mood

defiant critical reflective

Type

statement opinion philosophical

When to use this quote

- reflecting on personal success
- discussing group identity
- debating nationalism
- evaluating self-esteem
- examining cultural narratives

Key Concepts

pride self-worth social identity racism

Practical Applications

- motivational speaking
- social commentary

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines authentic pride?
- How does personal achievement interact with group identity?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Be proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-proud/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-pride-425046/) [I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Proud Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud-race-321513/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Race Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-pride-425047/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/)

## Related quotes

> [“There could be something wrong with me because I see Negroes neither better nor worse than any other race. Race pride is a luxury…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/there-could-be-something-wrong-with-me-because-i-see-negroes-neither/)

[Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/)

> [These people yapped loudly of race, of race consciousness, of race pride, and yet suppressed its most delightful manifestations, love of color, joy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nella-larsen/these-people-yapped-loudly-of-race-of-race-consciousness-of-race/)

[Nella Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nella-larsen/)

> [“I kick some imaginary tin cans. I hate cell phones, I hate Sagan, I hate Baudelaire and all those charlatans. I hate my pride.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-gavalda/i-kick-some-imaginary-tin-cans-i-hate-cell-phones-i-hate-sagan-i-hate/)

[Anne Gavalda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-gavalda/)

> [The proud hate pride in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-proud-hate-pride-in-others/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Yet if we could scorn Hate, and pride, and fear; If we were things born Not to shed a tear, I know not how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/yet-if-we-could-scorn-hate-and-pride-and-fear-if-we-were-things-born/)

[Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/)

> [Be not proud of race, face, place, or grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/be-not-proud-of-race-face-place-or-grace/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [I'm a black American, I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-m-a-black-american-i-am-proud-of-my-race-i-am-proud-of-who-i-am-i/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [I just don't have words to express how proud I am of this race team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmie-johnson/i-just-don-t-have-words-to-express-how-proud-i-am-of-this-race-team/)

[Jimmie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmie-johnson/)

> [Be as proud of your race today as our as our fathers were in days of yore. We have beautiful history, and we shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/be-as-proud-of-your-race-today-as-our-as-our-fathers-were-in-days-of/)

[Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/)

> [I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-d-much-rather-people-knew-me-as-a-good-tennis-player-than-as-an/)

[Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/)

> [I hate it when girls act stupid ’cause they think it’s cute. Intelligence is sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-hate-it-when-girls-act-stupid-cause-they-think-it-s-cute/)

[Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/)

> [You should climb around inside my brain, Dan. It's like this dark room surrounded by quicksand." "I know what you mean," her brother said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/you-should-climb-around-inside-my-brain-dan-it-s-like-this-dark-room/)

[Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/)

> [Do not be proud of your inconsistency. It is a pity, it is a pity that we should be equipped like this. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/do-not-be-proud-of-your-inconsistency-it-is-a-pity-it-is-a-pity-that/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/)

[Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/)

## More by Carroll O'Connor

> [I do talk less now because the sound of my voice saying over and over the things I said years ago embarrasses and depresses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/i-do-talk-less-now-because-the-sound-of-my-voice-saying-over-and-over/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [One irreducible residual of 38 years in the business is the number of lasting, loving friendships I have made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/one-irreducible-residual-of-38-years-in-the-business-is-the-number-of/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [We don't really need reviewers, just first-night reporters who will tell us faithfully whether or not the audience liked the show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/we-don-t-really-need-reviewers-just-first-night-reporters-who-will/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [My professional life in Hollywood has been filled with joy and laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/my-professional-life-in-hollywood-has-been-filled-with-joy-and/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [Some people thought we were presenting Archie as a false character. President Nixon thought we were making a fool out of a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/some-people-thought-we-were-presenting-archie-as-a-false-character/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [The reviewer is a singularly detested enemy because he is, unlike the hapless artist, invulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/the-reviewer-is-a-singularly-detested-enemy-because-he-is-unlike-the/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [Half the pictures directed by men of reputation fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/half-the-pictures-directed-by-men-of-reputation-fail/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [I have heard show business characterized as a refuge for childlike persons in flight from all things harsh and real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/i-have-heard-show-business-characterized-as-a-refuge-for-childlike/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [Nothing but the heart can change the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/nothing-but-the-heart-can-change-the-heart/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [It's the character that is the strongest that God gives the most challenges to. Take your struggles as a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/it-s-the-character-that-is-the-strongest-that-god-gives-the-most/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [Talent can be developed, gift is God-given. But artists have both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/talent-can-be-developed-gift-is-god-given-but-artists-have-both/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [Not all celebrities are dunces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/not-all-celebrities-are-dunces/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [The wages of pedantry is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/the-wages-of-pedantry-is-pain/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [In a capitalist society, persons who create capital, like Michael Eisner, are given the staggering rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/in-a-capitalist-society-persons-who-create-capital-like-michael/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

> [It was a lack of system that made the '30s Depression as inevitable as all others previously suffered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/it-was-a-lack-of-system-that-made-the-30s-depression-as-inevitable-as/)

[Carroll O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

[Explore all 32 Carroll O'Connor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/)

## More Be proud quotes

> [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/)

[Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/)

> [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Do not be proud of your inconsistency. It is a pity, it is a pity that we should be equipped like this. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/do-not-be-proud-of-your-inconsistency-it-is-a-pity-it-is-a-pity-that/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [You just have to keep trying to do good work, and hope that it leads to more good work. I want to look back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-just-have-to-keep-trying-to-do-good-work-and-hope-that-it-leads/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [All of my decisions I made when I was a kid were decisions, would my mother and father be proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-venturi/all-of-my-decisions-i-made-when-i-was-a-kid-were-decisions-would-my/)

[Ken Venturi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-venturi/)

> [We had pathetically simple dreams: to do meaningful work that we could be proud of, to be together, and to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/we-had-pathetically-simple-dreams-to-do-meaningful-work-that-we-could/)

[Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/)

> [the Republicans love to say that the Democratic Party is ruled by 'special interests.' But when pressed to name these 'special interests,' the usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/the-republicans-love-to-say-that-the-democratic-party-is-ruled-by/)

[Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/)

> [You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/you-should-never-be-proud-of-doing-the-right-thing-you-should-just-do/)

[Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/)

> [What I have most learned from my son is to respect him and to love him unconditionally. I believe that if parents respect their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/what-i-have-most-learned-from-my-son-is-to-respect-him-and-to-love/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [I was a breed of people who aren't capable of doing anything, really. At college I began to get the idea that being macho…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-was-a-breed-of-people-who-aren-t-capable-of-doing-anything-really/)

[Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/)

> [Any society that doesn't take care of its weaker younger members is not one to be proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-march/any-society-that-doesn-t-take-care-of-its-weaker-younger-members-is/)

[Stephanie March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-march/)

> [ The thing most worth doing in this modern world \[is to\] create jobs that men can work at, and be proud of, and make… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevil-shute/the-thing-most-worth-doing-in-this-modern-world-is-to-create-jobs/)

[Nevil Shute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevil-shute/)

> [I cannot understand how anyone can be an Indian and not be proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-cannot-understand-how-anyone-can-be-an-indian-and-not-be-proud/)

[Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/)

> [...We are intensely proud of their noble record and are glad to have had the whole world see how irresistible they are in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-intensely-proud-of-their-noble-record-and-are-glad-to-have-had/)

[Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/)

> [Ye shall only have foes to be hated; but not foes to be despised: ye must be proud of your foes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/ye-shall-only-have-foes-to-be-hated-but-not-foes-to-be-despised-ye/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

[Browse all 563 Be proud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-proud/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I hate pride, but if I were going to be proud of anything it would have to be something I'd done myself. Race pride is kind of stupid.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Carroll O'Connor"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-proud-of-anything-it-would/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Be proud"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-proud-of-anything-it-would/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/carroll-o-connor-19438_be-proud_i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-p_30459.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/carroll-o-connor-19438_be-proud_i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-p_30459.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/carroll-o-connor-19438_be-proud_i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-p_30459.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I hate pride, but if I were going to be proud of anything it would have to be something I'd done myself…” — Carroll O'Connor",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Carroll O'Connor",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-o-connor/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I hate pride, but if I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-proud-of-anything-it-would/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-o-connor/i-hate-pride-but-if-i-were-going-to-be-proud-of-anything-it-would/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
