Wefrequently，notonlypardon，butthoroughlyenterintoandsympathizewiththeexcessiveself-estimationofthosesplendidcharactersinwhichweobserveagreatanddistinguishedsuperiorityabovethecommonlevelofmankind。Wecallthemspirited，magnanimous，andhigh-minded；wordswhichallinvolveintheirmeaningaconsiderabledegreeofpraiseandadmiration。
　　ButwecannotenterintoanDsympathizewiththeexcessiveself-estimationofthosecharactersinwhichwecandiscernnosuchdistinguishedsuperiority。Wearedisgustedandrevoltedbyit；anditiswithsomedifficultythatwecaneitherpardonorsufferit:Wecallitprideorvanity；twowords，ofwhichthelatteralways，andtheformerforthemostpart，involveintheirmeaningaconsiderabledegreeofblame。
　　Thosetwovices，however，thoughresembling，insomerespects，asbeingbothmodificationsofexcessiveself-estimation，areyet，inmanyrespects，verydifferentfromoneanother。
　　Theproudmanissincere，and，inthebottomofhisheart，isconvincedofhisownsuperiority；thoughitmaysometimesbedifficulttoguessuponwhatthatconvictionisfounded。Hewishesyoutoviewhiminnootherlightthanthatinwhich，whenheplaceshimselfinyoursituation，hereallyviewshimself。Hedemandsnomoreofyouthan，whathethinks，justice。Ifyouappearnottorespecthimasherespectshimself，heismoreoffendedthanmortified，andfeelsthesameindignantresentmentasifhehadsufferedarealinjury。Hedoesnoteventhen，however，deigntoexplainthegroundsofhisownpretensions。Hedisdainstocourtyouresteem。Heaffectseventodespiseit，andendeavourstomaintainhisassumedstation，notsomuchbymakingyousensibleofhissuperiority，asofyourownmeanness。Heseemstowish，notsomuchtoexciteyouresteemforhimselfastomortifythatforyourself。
　　Thevainmanisnotsincere，and，inthebottomofhisheart，isveryseldomconvincedofthatsuperioritywhichhewishesyoutoascribetohim。Hewishesyoutoviewhiminmuchmoresplendidcoloursthanthoseinwhich，whenheplaceshimselfinyoursituation，andsupposesyoutoknowallthatheknows，hecanreallyviewhimself。Whenyouappeartoviewhim，therefore，indifferentcolours，perhapsinhispropercolours，heismuchmoremortifiedthanoffended。Thegroundsofhisclaimtothatcharacterwhichhewishesyoutoascribetohim，hetakeseveryopportunityofdisplaying，bothbythemostostentatiousandunnecessaryexhibitionofthegoodqualitiesandaccomplishmentswhichhepossessesinsometolerabledegree，andsometimesevenbyfalsepretensionstothosewhichheeitherpossessesinnodegree，orinsoveryslenderadegreethathemaywellenoughbesaidtopossesstheminnodegree。Farfromdespisingyouresteem，hecourtsitwiththemostanxiousassiduity。Farfromwishingtomortifyyourself-estimation，heishappytocherishit，inhopesthatinreturnyouwillcherishhisown。Heflattersinordertobeflattered。Hestudiestoplease，andendeavourstobribeyouintoagoodopinionofhimbypolitenessandcomplaisance，andsometimesevenbyrealandessentialgoodoffices，thoughoftendisplayed，perhaps，withunnecessaryostentation。
　　Thevainmanseestherespectwhichispaidtorankandfortune，andwishestousurpthisrespect，aswellasthatfortalentsandvirtues。Hisdress，hisequipage，hiswayofliving，accordingly，allannouncebothahigherrankandagreaterfortunethanreallybelongtohim；andinordertosupportthisfoolishimpositionforafewyearsinthebeginningofhislife，heoftenreduceshimselftopovertyanddistresslongbeforetheendofit。Aslongashecancontinuehisexpence，however，hisvanityisdelightedwithviewinghimself，notinthelightinwhichyouwouldviewhimifyouknewallthatheknows；butinthatinwhich，heimagines，hehas，byhisownaddress，inducedyouactuallytoviewhim。Ofalltheillusionsofvanitythisis，perhaps，themostcommon。Obscurestrangerswhovisitforeigncountries，orwho，fromaremoteprovince，cometovisit，forashorttime，thecapitaloftheirowncountry，mostfrequentlyattempttopractiseit。Thefollyoftheattempt，thoughalwaysverygreatandmostunworthyofamanofsense，maynotbealtogethersogreatuponsuchasuponmostotheroccasions。Iftheirstayisshort，theymayescapeanydisgracefuldetection；
　　and，afterindulgingtheirvanityforafewmonthsorafewyears，theymayreturntotheirownhomes，andrepair，byfutureparsimony，thewasteoftheirpastprofusion。
　　Theproudmancanveryseldombeaccusedofthisfolly。Hissenseofhisowndignityrendershimcarefultopreservehisindependency，and，whenhisfortunehappensnottobelarge，thoughhewishestobedecent，hestudiestobefrugalandattentiveinallhisexpences。Theostentatiousexpenceofthevainmanishighlyoffensivetohim。Itoutshines，perhaps，hisown。Itprovokeshisindignationasaninsolentassumptionofarankwhichisbynomeansdue；andhenevertalksofitwithoutloadingitwiththeharshestandseverestreproaches。
　　Theproudmandoesnotalwaysfeelhimselfathiseaseinthecompanyofhisequals，andstilllessinthatofhissuperiors。
　　Hecannotlaydownhisloftypretensions，andthecountenanceandconversationofsuchcompanyoverawehimsomuchthathedarenotdisplaythem。Hehasrecoursetohumblercompany，forwhichhehaslittlerespect，whichhewouldnotwillinglychuse；andwhichisbynomeansagreeabletohim；thatofhisinferiors，hisflatterers，anddependants。Heseldomvisitshissuperiors，or，ifhedoes，itisrathertoshowthatheisentitledtoliveinsuchcompany，thanforanyrealsatisfactionthatheenjoysinit。ItisasLordClarendonsaysoftheEarlofArundel，thathesometimeswenttocourt，becausehecouldthereonlyfindagreatermanthanhimself；butthathewentveryseldom，becausehefoundthereagreatermanthanhimself。
　　Itisquiteotherwisewiththevainman。Hecourtsthecompanyofhissuperiorsasmuchastheproudmanshunsit。Theirsplendour，heseemstothink，reflectsasplendouruponthosewhoaremuchaboutthem。Hehauntsthecourtsofkingsandtheleveesofministers，andgiveshimselftheairofbeingacandidateforfortuneandpreferment，wheninrealityhepossessesthemuchmoreprecioushappiness，ifheknewhowtoenjoyit，ofnotbeingone。Heisfondofbeingadmittedtothetablesofthegreat，andstillmorefondofmagnifyingtootherpeoplethefamiliaritywithwhichheishonouredthere。Heassociateshimself，asmuchashecan，withfashionablepeople，withthosewhoaresupposedtodirectthepublicopinion，withthewitty，withthelearned，withthepopular；andheshunsthecompanyofhisbestfriendswhenevertheveryuncertaincurrentofpublicfavourhappenstoruninanyrespectagainstthem。Withthepeopletowhomhewishestorecommendhimself，heisnotalwaysverydelicateaboutthemeanswhichheemploysforthatpurpose；unnecessaryostentation，groundlesspretensions，constantassentation，frequentlyflattery，thoughforthemostpartapleasantandasprightlyflattery，andveryseldomthegrossandfulsomeflatteryofaparasite。Theproudman，onthecontrary，neverflatters，andisfrequentlyscarceciviltoanybody。
　　Notwithstandingallitsgroundlesspretensions，however，vanityisalmostalwaysasprightlyandagay，andveryoftenagood-naturedpassion。Prideisalwaysagrave，asullen，andasevereone。Eventhefalsehoodsofthevainmanareallinnocentfalsehoods，meanttoraisehimself，nottolowerotherpeople。Todotheproudmanjustice，heveryseldomstoopstothebasenessoffalsehood。Whenhedoes，however，hisfalsehoodsarebynomeanssoinnocent。Theyareallmischievous，andmeanttolowerotherpeople。Heisfullofindignationattheunjustsuperiority，ashethinksit，whichisgiventothem。Heviewsthemwithmalignityandenvy，and，intalkingofthem，oftenendeavours，asmuchashecan，toextenuateandlessenwhateverarethegroundsuponwhichtheirsuperiorityissupposedtobefounded。Whatevertalesarecirculatedtotheirdisadvantage，thoughheseldomforgesthemhimself，yetheoftentakespleasureinbelievingthem，isbynomeansunwillingtorepeatthem，andevensometimeswithsomedegreeofexaggeration。Theworstfalsehoodsofvanityareallwhatwecallwhitelies:thoseofpride，wheneveritcondescendstofalsehood，arealloftheoppositecomplexion。
　　Ourdisliketoprideandvanitygenerallydisposesustorankthepersonswhomweaccuseofthosevicesratherbelowthanabovethecommonlevel。Inthisjudgment，however，Ithink，wearemostfrequentlyinthewrong，andthatboththeproudandthevainmanareoftenperhapsforthemostpartagooddealaboveit；
　　thoughnotnearsomuchaseithertheonereallythinkshimself，orastheotherwishesyoutothinkhim。Ifwecomparethemwiththeirownpretensions，theymayappearthejustobjectsofcontempt。Butwhenwecomparethemwithwhatthegreaterpartoftheirrivalsandcompetitorsreallyare，theymayappearquiteotherwise，andverymuchabovethecommonlevel。Wherethereisthisrealsuperiority，prideisfrequentlyattendedwithmanyrespectablevirtues；withtruth，withintegrity，withahighsenseofhonour，withcordialandsteadyfriendship，withthemostinflexiblefirmnessandresolution。Vanity，withmanyamiableones；withhumanity，withpoliteness，withadesiretoobligeinalllittlematters，andsometimeswitharealgenerosityingreatones；agenerosity，however，whichitoftenwishestodisplayinthemostsplendidcoloursthatitcan。Bytheirrivalsandenemies，theFrench，inthelastcentury，wereaccusedofvanity；theSpaniards，ofpride；andforeignnationsweredisposedtoconsidertheoneasthemoreamiable；theother，asthemorerespectablepeople。
　　Thewordsvainandvanityarenevertakeninagoodsense。Wesometimessayofaman，whenwearetalkingofhimingoodhumour，thatheisthebetterforhisvanity，orthathisvanityismoredivertingthanoffensive；butwestillconsideritasafoibleandaridiculeinhischaracter。
　　Thewordsproudandpride，onthecontrary，aresometimestakeninagoodsense。Wefrequentlysayofaman，thatheistooproud，orthathehastoomuchnoblepride，evertosufferhimselftodoameanthing。Prideis，inthiscase，confoundedwithmagnanimity。Aristotle，aPhilosopherwhocertainlyknewtheworld，indrawingthecharacterofthemagnanimousman，paintshimwithmanyfeatureswhich，inthetwolastcenturies，werecommonlyascribedtotheSpanishcharacter:thathewasdeliberateinallhisresolutions；slow，andeventardy，inallhisactions；thathisvoicewasgrave，hisspeechdeliberate，hisstepandmotionslow；thatheappearedindolentandevenslothful，notatalldisposedtobustleaboutlittlematters，buttoactwiththemostdeterminedandvigorousresolutionuponallgreatandillustriousoccasions；thathewasnotaloverofdanger，orforwardtoexposehimselftolittledangers，buttogreatdangers；andthat，whenheexposedhimselftodanger，hewasaltogetherregardlessofhislife。
　　Theproudmaniscommonlytoowellcontentedwithhimselftothinkthathischaracterrequiresanyamendment。Themanwhofeelshimselfall-perfect，naturallyenoughdespisesallfurtherimprovement。Hisself-sufficiencyandabsurdconceitofhisownsuperiority，commonlyattendhimfromhisyouthtohismostadvancedage；andhedies，asHamletsays，withallhissinsuponhishead，unanointed，unanealed。
　　Itisfrequentlyotherwisewiththevainman。Thedesireoftheesteemandadmirationofotherpeople，whenforqualitiesandtalentswhicharethenaturalandproperobjectsofesteemandadmiration，istherealloveoftrueglory；apassionwhich，ifnottheverybestpassionofhumannature，iscertainlyoneofthebest。Vanityisveryfrequentlynomorethananattemptprematurelytousurpthatglorybeforeitisdue。Thoughyourson，underfive-and-twentyyearsofage，shouldbebutacoxcomb；
　　donot，uponthataccount，despairofhisbecoming，beforeheisforty，averywiseandworthyman，andarealproficientinallthosetalentsandvirtuestowhich，atpresent，hemayonlybeanostentatiousandemptypretender。Thegreatsecretofeducationistodirectvanitytoproperobjects。Neversufferhimtovaluehimselfupontrivialaccomplishments。Butdonotalwaysdiscouragehispretensionstothosethatareofrealimportance。