Pride vs. Ego — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 16, 2023
Pride refers to a feeling of self-respect or satisfaction from achievements. Ego denotes one's sense of self-worth, often driven by personal identity or superiority.
Difference Between Pride and Ego
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Key Differences
Pride and Ego are often used interchangeably but represent distinct emotions and concepts. Pride denotes a feeling of satisfaction derived from one's accomplishments or associations. In contrast, Ego revolves around an individual's perception of self, encompassing self-importance and often self-centeredness.
Pride can be both positive and negative. Positive pride stems from genuine accomplishments or virtues, celebrating one's efforts or attributes. On the other hand, Ego largely operates in the subconscious, influencing behaviors based on the need to assert one's identity or worth.
While Pride can be collective, as in taking pride in one's community or cultural achievements, Ego is inherently individualistic. Ego focuses on the "I," often leading individuals to prioritize their needs, desires, or views over others.
Pride can act as a motivator, pushing individuals to strive for excellence or maintain certain standards. Ego, however, can lead to conflicts, as it can create a sense of competition or superiority, driving a wedge between individuals or groups.
In moderation, Pride can be healthy, instilling a sense of worth and motivation. An unchecked Ego, however, can lead to arrogance, entitlement, and a disregard for others' feelings or perspectives.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Satisfaction from accomplishments or virtues
Sense of self-worth or self-importance
Emotional Base
Achievement-based
Identity-based
Scope
Can be individual or collective
Primarily individualistic
Potential Outcome
Motivation or self-worth
Conflict, arrogance, or entitlement
Relationship with Others
Can foster connection based on shared achievements
Can lead to isolation due to superiority complex
Compare with Definitions
Pride
A sense of dignity and self-respect.
He swallowed his pride and apologized.
Ego
The conscious mind, contrasted with the subconscious.
The id, ego, and superego are central to Freudian psychology.
Pride
A group of lions.
A pride of lions roamed the savannah.
Ego
An inflated sense of one's value or power.
Celebrity can inflate one's ego to unhealthy levels.
Pride
Pride is positive emotional response or attitude to something with an intimate connection to oneself, due to its perceived value. Oxford defines it amongst other things as "the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself or one's own importance" This may be related to one's own abilities or achievements, positive characteristics of friends or family, or one's country.
Ego
The part of the psyche that experiences the external world and reacts to it.
Her ego battled with her morals over the right decision.
Pride
A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect.
Ego
A person's sense of self-importance.
He has such a big ego; he thinks the world revolves around him.
Pride
Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association
Parental pride.
Ego
A person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance
He needed a boost to his ego
Pride
Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness.
Ego
The self, especially as distinct from the world and other selves.
Pride
A cause or source of pleasure or satisfaction; the best of a group or class
These soldiers were their country's pride.
Ego
In psychoanalytic theory, the division of the psyche that is conscious, is responsible for our feelings of selfhood, and most directly interacts with external reality.
Pride
The most successful or thriving condition; prime
The pride of youth.
Ego
An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit.
Pride
An excessively high opinion of oneself; conceit.
Ego
Appropriate pride in oneself; self-esteem.
Pride
Mettle or spirit in horses.
Ego
The self, especially with a sense of self-importance.
Pride
(Zoology) A group of lions, usually consisting of several related females and their offspring and a small number of unrelated adult males.
Ego
The most central part of the mind, which mediates with one's surroundings.
Pride
A flamboyant or impressive group
A pride of acrobats.
Ego
The conscious and permanent subject of all psychical experiences, whether held to be directly known or the product of reflective thought; the subject consciously considered as "I" by a person; - opposed to non-ego.
Pride
To indulge (oneself) in a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction
I pride myself on this beautiful garden.
Ego
That one of the three parts of a person's psychic apparatus that mediates consciously between the drives of the id and the realities of the external physical and social environment, by integrating perceptions of the external world and organizing the reactions to it. Contrasted with the id and superego.
Pride
The quality or state of being proud; an unreasonable overestimation of one's own superiority in terms of talents, looks, wealth, importance etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.
Ego
Egotism; as, a job requiring a diplomat without too much ego.
Pride
A sense of one's own worth, and scorn for what is beneath or unworthy of oneself; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; rejection of shame
He took pride in his work.
He had pride of ownership in his department.
Ego
Self-esteem; as, he has an overinflated ego.
Pride
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation.
Ego
An inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others
Pride
That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-congratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.
Ego
Your consciousness of your own identity
Pride
Show; ostentation; glory.
Ego
(psychoanalysis) the conscious mind
Pride
Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory.
Ego
An individual's sense of self-esteem or importance.
His ego was bruised when he wasn't chosen as the team captain.
Pride
Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness.
Pride
Lust; sexual desire; especially, excitement of sexual appetite in a female animal.
Pride
A company of lions or other large felines.
A pride of lions often consists of a dominant male, his harem and their offspring, but young adult males 'leave home' to roam about as bachelors pride until able to seize/establish a family pride of their own.
Pride
(zoology) The small European lamprey species Petromyzon branchialis.
Pride
(reflexive) To take or experience pride in something; to be proud of it.
I pride myself on being a good judge of character.
Pride
A small European lamprey (Petromyzon branchialis); - called also prid, and sandpiper.
Pride
The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.
Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt.
Pride
A sense of one's own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; - in a good sense.
Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride.
A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.
Pride
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation; disdain.
Let not the foot of pride come against me.
That hardly we escaped the pride of France.
Pride
That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-gratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.
Lofty trees yclad with summer's pride.
I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
A bold peasantry, their country's pride.
Pride
Show; ostentation; glory.
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.
Pride
Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory; as, to be in the pride of one's life.
A falcon, towering in her pride of place.
Pride
Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness; hence, lust; sexual desire; esp., an excitement of sexual appetite in a female beast.
Pride
To indulge in pride, or self-esteem; to rate highly; to plume; - used reflexively.
Pluming and priding himself in all his services.
Pride
To be proud; to glory.
Pride
A feeling of self-respect and personal worth
Pride
Satisfaction with your (or another's) achievements;
He takes pride in his son's success
Pride
The trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards
Pride
A group of lions
Pride
Unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins)
Pride
Be proud of;
He prides himself on making it into law school
Pride
A feeling of satisfaction from personal achievements.
Her pride in finishing the marathon was evident.
Pride
A joyful feeling arising from association with something commendable.
She felt pride in her team's accomplishments.
Pride
A high opinion of one's importance.
His pride wouldn't let him admit he was wrong.
Common Curiosities
Is ego always negative?
Not always. A healthy ego is crucial for self-esteem, but an inflated ego can lead to arrogance.
What's the main difference between pride and ego?
Pride is satisfaction from achievements or associations, while ego relates to self-worth and often superiority.
Is taking pride in oneself similar to having a big ego?
Not exactly. One can have pride in genuine achievements without an inflated ego.
Do pride and ego influence relationships?
Absolutely. Excessive pride or ego can strain relationships, while balanced emotions can foster connections.
Can pride be a positive emotion?
Yes, pride can be positive when rooted in genuine accomplishments or virtues.
Does ego always lead to conflicts?
Not necessarily, but a dominant ego can cause misunderstandings or feelings of superiority.
Why is ego often seen in a negative light?
An unchecked ego can lead to arrogance, entitlement, and conflicts.
Can pride be shared collectively?
Yes, people can feel pride for collective achievements like community or cultural accomplishments.
Is pride solely individualistic?
No, pride can be both individual and collective.
Can ego be beneficial?
A balanced ego can bolster self-worth and confidence without overshadowing others.
How is ego related to identity?
Ego revolves around one's perception of self and personal identity.
Can both pride and ego be controlled?
Yes, with self-awareness and introspection, both pride and ego can be kept in balance.
Are pride and ego emotions or states of mind?
Pride is primarily an emotion, while ego is more of a state of mind or perception of self-worth.
How can one differentiate between healthy pride and ego-driven pride?
Healthy pride is rooted in genuine achievements, while ego-driven pride seeks validation and superiority.
How does pride relate to humility?
Pride, in excess, can oppose humility, but healthy pride coexists with humility.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
