day no. 15,907: laudo

"Pride is passive, desiring only the applause of one person, which it already has."

-- G.K. Chesterton, Heretics

Pride is self-satisfied or self-condemned. Either way, it's vote is final. It has the last word. No one can overrule the proud. If it sees itself as guilty, no one else can acquit them. If it sees itself as innocent, no one else can condemn. No one else's opinion matters. The only opinion that matters is the one already held. So, even when pride disparages itself, it congratulates itself for its high standards. Its assessment is always ultimate. It applauds itself even for its criticism of itself.