When pride is virtue, who says it is a vice?

Vishnu Sharma was teaching the foolish sons of a particular King by telling stories. These stories although simple contained extraordinary knowledge of life and virtues. One such tale is that of Pigeon-King, Chitragriba. Chitragriba and his flock, while flying in the sky, saw some grains in the forest, and fell into the net when they greedily descended to eat. However, they flew away with the net together to the Mouse-King, who was the friend of Chitragriba. Finding his friend in trouble, he went to cut the trap of Chitragriba first, to which Chitragriba denied, and said he need not have to worry about him. He should cut the trap of his subjects first and then come to him. What he meant by this was, he also was a pigeon like all others, but he was their King, their leader. And those who are proud of being a king should also take the responsibility of the safety and well-being of their subjects. This is the true pride of a king or a leader which he should have. Perhaps this pride makes a man think high above petty selfishness and make him kind and generous, and propel him to do great things for others and society.

The true yardstick to measure the greatness of a man is his kindness and generosity towards others and society at large. It is only through unselfish service to mankind, a man can truly help himself. To do so, he has to come out from the narrow parallel roads of self-interest and selfishness that make a man fall into the sewage of ordinariness. In order to do and be extraordinary, a man must rise up from the deep slumber of selfishness and fill the world with the brilliance of his inherent potential, for which he must have pride and belief in himself. True pride always accompanies belief. If it is not so, it becomes sheer arrogance and ego.

A man must be proud of himself; he must believe in himself first in order to do that. But an arrogant man is a man with fake pride without any belief in himself or his abilities. Being so he becomes a hypocrite and runs away when he is needed the most. It must be remembered that pride must not take the form of arrogance or ego, which is hollow pride.

True pride can make a man strong. It does not need a title or even a position in society to develop in a man. And this can only be done when a man does not think of himself as an ordinary individual, but be proud of his divine origin, and belief in his ability to do whatever he wish to do. Great things are reposed upon them who believe that they are born to do great things and whose heart is ever filled with pride and honor for their own generosity, benevolence, and kindness.