Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matter (XXXVII)

Excessive pride in one’s own merits is self-defeating, for it is distasteful and leaves the person friendless.

(This is a translation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu’s philosophical sayings about worldly matters originally written in Chinese.)

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Below is not an official translation, just for reference.

Those who excessively praise themselves, boasting about how great and extraordinary they are, are actually deeply flawed individuals. They are simply unaware of their own misguided path, and even if they are aware, they refuse to acknowledge it. They believe they are flawless and capable of everything, so why would they admit to having any mistakes or shortcomings? These individuals cause self-inflicted problems because they praise themselves, relishing in showcasing their strengths while hiding their weaknesses. When others hear this, they feel repelled, dislike them, and perceive them as arrogant and untouchable. As a result, people are unwilling to assist them, rendering no benefit to their cause. Their self-praise leads to their own detriment, and this is indeed their mistake.