Page:The Works of Samuel Johnson ... A journey to the Hebrides. The vision of Theodore, the hermit of Teneriffe. The fountains. Prayers and meditations. Sermons.v. 10-11. Parliamentary debates.pdf/380

 prompted by pride; for to what end is an ample fortune generally coveted? Not that the possessour may have it in his power to relieve distress, or recompense virtue; but that he may distinguish himself from the herd of mankind by expensive vices, foreign luxuries, and a pompous equipage. To pride, therefore, must be ascribed most of the fraud, injustice, violence, and extortion, by which wealth is frequently acquired.

Another concomitant of pride is envy, or the desire of debasing others. A proud man is uneasy and dissatisfied, while any of those applauses are bestowed on another, which he is desirous of himself. On this account he never fails of exerting all his art to destroy, or obstruct, a rising character. His inferiours he endeavours to depress, lest they should become his equals; and his equals, not only because they are so, but lest they should in time become his superiours. For this end he circulates the whisper of malevolence, aggravates the tale of calumny, and assists the clamour of defamation; opposes in publick the justest designs, and in private depreciates the most uncontested virtues.

Another consequence of immoderate self-esteem is an insatiable desire of propagating in others the favourable opinion he entertains of himself. No proud man is satisfied with being singly his own admirer; his excellencies must receive the honour of publick suffrage. He, therefore, tortures his invention for means to make himself conspicuous, and to draw the eyes of the world upon him. It is impossible, and would be here improper, to enumerate all the fictitious qualities, all the petty emulations, and laborious trifles, to which this appetite, this eagerness of distinction, has given birth in men of narrow views and mean attainments. But who can without horrour think on those wretches who can attempt to raise a character by superiority of guilt? Who endeavour to excel in vice and outvie each other in debauchery? Yet thus far can pride infatuate the mind, and extinguish the light of reason.