<p>Hmm… I can’t seem to the point across that I don’t think people should be proud of themselves. The TV guy shouldn’t be proud. The philantropist shouldn’t be proud. If both are truly happy and completely satisfied, good for them, that is the object of life.</p>
<p>Although virtue cannot be universally defined, the individual should strive to discover virtue for themselves and live by it. People with good character are people who live by good virtues. What is good is what leads to happiness. There are culture influences but ultimately “good” is based on individual perspective.</p>
<p>What makes you believe pride and self-respect are the same? Self-respect comes from internal confidence and believing your life has value. Pride is the admiration of past accomplishments. The two concepts are entirely unrelated. </p>
<p>And finally, are you claiming that pride is essential for you to see the relevance of your past? Or that you can’t relate past experiences to each other without pride? That makes no sense.</p>