Pride always steals peace. This is so very true and yet I forget it so easily …
The proud and arrogant person is a trouble to all that converse with him, but most of all unto himself; every thing is enough to vex him: but scarce any thing is sufficient to content and please him.
He is ready to quarrel with every thing that falls out, as if he himself were such a considerable person, that God Almighty should do every thing to gratify him, and all the creatures of heaven and earth should wait upon him, and obey his will.
The leaves of high trees do shake with every blast of wind, and every breath, every evil word will disquiet and torment an arrogant man; but the humble person hath the advantage when he is despised, that none can think more meanly of him than he doth of himself, and therefore he is not troubled at the matter, but can easily bear those reproaches which wound the other to the soul.
Contention, which cometh of pride, betrays a man into a thousand inconveniences which those of a meek and lowly temper seldom meet with. True and genuine humility begetteth both a veneration and love amongst all wise and discerning persons; while pride defeateth its own design, and depriveth a man of that honour it makes him pretend to.
Henry Scougal