Pride--and Popularity--and Principle

One of the timeless questions⎯one seemingly never settled⎯is: “What makes people do what they do?” Human nature, we sometimes simply say⎯but human nature is so simple thing to consider, with all the complexities and problems, and all the motives of men.

But no matter what other motives there may be, certainly pride is frequently a factor in the actions of people⎯and is somewhat inherent in us all. All of us like to be well thought of; all of us are somewhat influenced by other people’s opinions⎯even those who profess not to care about other people’s opinions.

People like to be approved. People like the good opinion of other people. We see it from the earliest years of youth, as youngsters are sensitive to the opinions of playmates. And one of the most important decisions of life is deciding by whom we most want to be approved⎯and what price we would be willing to pay for approval.

Will a boy do anything a crowd dares him to do, just for the sake of pride or supposed approval?

Will a girl relax her standards, or sacrifice personal purity, for the sake of supposed popularity or approval?

Will a man suppress a truth he has found for the sake of professional approval?

The disapproval of the crowd, the disapproval of fashion, the disapproval of prevailing opinion isn’t ever easy to take⎯but it is easier than the kind of conscience that comes with trading principle for pride.

Repentance itself is a hard principle for a very proud person because repentance means admitting a mistake. Sometimes a person who has committed himself to a particular position would willingly alter it, would willingly repent, except for pride, except for appearances.

One unfortunate part of sustaining a false pride or a false position is the effect it has on others also: For all of us (whether we want it so or not) have more influence on others than we sometimes suppose. Our every attitude and utterance, our respect or disrespect, what others feel from us, affect our families, our friends, and all who publicly or privately observe the living of our lives.

And to the young especially⎯and also even to the old⎯we would say: Never compromise principle or high personal standards for a supposed popularity or approval, or for the supposed good opinion of any person or crowd or clique⎯for the kind of pride that is bought with principle comes at too high a price.