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Selfish vs Pride - What's the difference?

selfish | pride |

As an adjective selfish

is holding one’s self-interest as the standard for decision making.

As a noun pride is

the quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.

As a verb pride is

to take or experience pride in something, be proud of it.

selfish

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Holding one’s self-interest as the standard for decision making.
  • * 1997 , John Peniel, The Children Of The Law Of One & The Lost Teachings Of Atlantis , chapter 10, page 127
  • “We all have both a selfish separate self, and an Inner Being that is One with the Universal Spirit. In this sense, every human has a sort of ‘split personality’. We are all kind of what you call ‘schitzy’ with these two sides, these two people living within us. And they are in total opposition. The free will dictates which of these two sides will have its way in our life, at every given moment.”
  • Having regard for oneself above others’ well-being.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
  • , chapter=5, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite.

    Usage notes

    * Said of people, motives, desires, acts, etc.

    Synonyms

    * egoistic * egotistic * egotistical * self-centered * greedy

    Antonyms

    * altruistic * philanthropic * selfless * unselfish

    Derived terms

    * selfishly * selfishness

    See also

    * self-serving

    Anagrams

    *

    pride

    English

    (wikipedia pride)

    Noun

  • The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.
  • A sense of one's own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; -- in a good sense.
  • He took pride in his work.
    He had pride of ownership in his department.
  • * (rfdate) Macaulay
  • A people which takes no pride' in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with ' pride by remote descendants.
  • * (rfdate) (William Blake)
  • The pride of the peacock is the glory of God.
  • Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation; disdain; hubris.
  • * (rfdate) G. K. Chesterton, Introduction to Aesop's Fables
  • Pride goeth before the fall.
  • That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-gratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children etc.
  • * (rfdate) Spenser
  • lofty trees yclad with summer's pride
  • * (rfdate) Bible, Zech. ix. 6
  • I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
  • * (rfdate) Goldsmith
  • a bold peasantry, their country's pride
  • (zoology) The small European lamprey species .
  • Show; ostentation; glory.
  • * (rfdate) Shakespeare
  • Pride , pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.
  • Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory,
  • * to be in the pride of one's life.
  • * (rfdate) Shakespeare
  • a falcon, towering in her pride of place
  • Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness.
  • Lust; sexual desire; especially, excitement of sexual appetite in a female beast.
  • (zoology) A company of lions.
  • Synonyms

    * (lamprey species) prid, sandpiper * See also

    Derived terms

    * point of pride * pride comes before a fall * prideful

    Verb

  • (reflexive) To take or experience pride in something, be proud of it.
  • I pride myself on being a good judge of character, but pride goes before the fall and I'm not a good judge of my own character so I'm often wrong without knowing it.

    References

    (Webster 1913)