The Nature of Pride

Lewis delves deeply into the concept of pride, describing it as inherently competitive and the root of many other vices. He argues that pride is not about having something, but about having more than others. This competitive nature makes pride particularly insidious, as it thrives on comparison and superiority. Lewis states, 'Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.' This idea is illustrated through various examples, such as a man who seeks more wealth not for the pleasure it brings, but to be richer than others, or a political leader who demands more power to feel superior. Pride, according to Lewis, is the chief cause of misery and enmity, both among humans and between humans and God.