C.S. Lewis wrote that "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man….It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest." Lets follow that with Fulton John Sheen's "Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals."
There will be no such thing as contentment without the constant feeling of or demand for respect.
So why do we do it? Because we were told whether be as a child or a growing adult to "believe in yourself." Who would've thought that such positive remark may result to excessive arrogance. This thin line between righteousness and self-righteousness causes the ultimate harm to others. It also drowns us with fear and anger. It forces us to spit quick judgements and form thoughtless preconceptions. It is the mask of our own fault.
Shame follows the pride chicken.
Peace is not the absence of war; it is a virtue; a state of mind; a disposition for benevolence; confidence; and justice.
Baruch you rock.