Pride is a great vice which prevents us from seeing and facing reality. We have an exaggerated opinion of our dignity, importance or bearing which exists in our own mind. We have no qualms in displaying our pride in our behavior or conduct. Many a times, our pride is unwarranted as we lack the qualities for which we feel so proud of ourselves. This can be clearly seen by others and not by us. We become a laughing stock in society and it is hard to understand or recover from such shock as our pride closes our eyes to reality. An inflated state of self should be supported by sufficient qualifications or qualities. Even when we are highly qualified or have what it takes to be proud, we should remember that there are many others who are better than us. Let us take a look at the amusing story of the jackal and the proud wolf whose pride took a mighty tumble:
A jackal met a wolf and both of them were chatting when the wolf suddenly asked the jackal how much he had studied. The jackal replied that he was only half educated. The wolf replied with great pride that he was twice educated as the jackal and therefore should be addressed as ‘Sir’. Just then a ferocious tiger came there. He positioned himself to leap at them and kill them. The wolf was very frightened and he was not able to speak. The jackal was a quick thinker. He said that they were seeking him as they wished to consult him on a matter which needed the tiger’s superior intelligence. The tiger relaxed and asked what the problem was. The jackal said that he had caught two plump chickens and the wolf who claimed to be more educated than him wanted a whole chicken for himself and while the jackal felt that it was not fair.
The tiger asked the wolf his qualifications. The wolf’s teeth clattered in fright. The jackal interpreted it by saying that the wolf has as many qualifications as teeth in his mouth. The tiger opened his mouth in a big grin and bared his fearsome teeth. He then claimed that his qualifications were more than the wolf’s. The frightened wolf fell flat on his face. The clever jackal said the wolf was prostrating to the tiger’s teeth and he too prostrated in front of him for having settled his issue. The jackal said that since the tiger was the most qualified, he could have both the plump chickens.
The tiger recalled the taste of chickens he had eaten in the past. He planned to have both the chickens and also kill and eat the jackal and the wolf as they were both stupid and less educated than him. He was superior to both of them and deserved it all. The jackal led them to the side of a hill where there was a tunnel. He asked the wolf to go and fetch the chickens for the tiger. The wolf squeezed through the narrow tunnel and escaped. When he did not come out, after some time, the jackal said he would go in and get the chickens and also bring out the wolf – the tiger could punish him for his tardiness. The jackal also squeezed through the tunnel and escaped. The tiger waited for some time and realised that he had been tricked. He forgot that he was highly educated and hurled abuses and curses at the jackal. The jackal and the wolf escaped from the other side of the tunnel. The wolf got back his voice and said: You may be uneducated but you certainly have got brains. The jackal replied: Thank you – Sir!
The false pride of the tiger made him lose his prey and the false pride of the wolf got him into a bad situation. But both of them did not learn their lessons. The tiger lost his meal and the wolf would not survive another attack without help from the jackal. Pride is a disagreement from truth. We must remember that Truth always wins and Truth is God. Having silly pride ensures a definite fall!
