NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS, EXCERPT

"Now the proud man, since he deserves most, must be good in the highest degree; for the better man always deserves more , and the best man most. Therefore the truly proud man must be good. And greatness in every virtue would seem to be characteristic of a proud man. And it would be most unbecoming for a proud man to fly from danger , swinging his arms by his sides , or to wrong another; for what end should he do disgraceful acts, he to whom nothing is great? If we consider him point by point, we should see the utter absurdity of a proud man who is not good. Nor, again, would he be worthy of honor if he were bad; for honor is the prize of virtue, and it is to the good that it is rendered. Pride, then, seems to be a sort of crown of the virtues; for it makes them greater, and it is not found without them. Therefore it is hard to be truly proud; for it is impossible without nobility and goodness of character ." P.992, "Nichomachean Ethics, BASIC WORKS OF ARISTOTLE (1941, 2001)