Pride vs. Vanity: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Pride is a feeling of self-respect and satisfaction in one's achievements, while vanity is excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements.
Key Differences
Pride is a sense of self-worth and dignity derived from personal or collective achievements. Vanity, by contrast, involves an excessive preoccupation with one's image or accomplishments, often seeking external validation.
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Dec 16, 2023
Pride is often viewed positively, as it can be a healthy recognition of one's abilities or heritage. Vanity, however, is generally seen negatively, as it suggests a superficial concern with oneself, often at the expense of others.
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Pride stems from genuine accomplishments or qualities and is internally motivated. Vanity is driven by the desire for admiration and approval from others, focusing on superficial traits.
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Pride can foster confidence and self-esteem, contributing to personal growth and social cohesion. Vanity can lead to arrogance and alienation, as it involves putting one's appearance or achievements above all else.
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Pride manifests in a variety of contexts, such as cultural, familial, or personal achievements. Vanity is more specific, often associated with physical appearance, material possessions, or social status.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A feeling of self-respect and satisfaction in one's own or group's achievements.
Excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements.
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Perception
Generally positive, reflecting dignity and self-worth.
Often negative, associated with superficiality and egoism.
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Motivation
Internal, based on genuine achievements or qualities.
External, seeking admiration and approval from others.
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Impact
Promotes confidence and self-esteem.
Can lead to arrogance and a focus on superficial traits.
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Context
Broad, includes cultural, familial, or personal realms.
Typically centers on appearance, possessions, or status.
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Pride and Vanity Definitions
Pride
Pride is a sense of self-respect and fulfillment from one's own or one's group's achievements.
She felt immense pride in graduating at the top of her class.
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Vanity
Vanity often involves a preoccupation with physical attractiveness or fashion.
The fashion show was an arena of vanity and competition.
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Pride
Pride can be the contentment felt by parents seeing their children succeed.
The pride on their faces was unmistakable as they watched their daughter perform.
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Vanity
Vanity is the desire for admiration based on one's appearance or achievements.
Driven by vanity, he boasted about his accomplishments to anyone who would listen.
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Pride
Pride encompasses cultural or national pride, a collective feeling shared by a group.
The cultural pride during the festival was palpable among the attendees.
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Vanity
Vanity is excessive pride in one's appearance, abilities, or achievements.
His vanity was apparent in the hours he spent grooming himself.
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Vanity
Vanity can imply a superficial or excessive concern with how one is perceived by others.
Her vanity led her to constantly seek approval on social media.
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Pride
Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association
Parental pride.
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Dec 10, 2023
Vanity
Something about which one is vain or conceited
"One thing ... rather quenched her vanities.
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Pride
A cause or source of pleasure or satisfaction; the best of a group or class
These soldiers were their country's pride.
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Vanity
Worthlessness, pointlessness, or futility
The vanity of regretting missed opportunities.
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Pride
(Zoology) A group of lions, usually consisting of several related females and their offspring and a small number of unrelated adult males.
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Vanity
A bathroom cabinet that encloses a basin and its water lines and drain, usually furnished with shelves and drawers underneath for storage of toiletries.
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Vanity
That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.
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Pride
To indulge (oneself) in a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction
I pride myself on this beautiful garden.
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Vanity
Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own abilities, appearance, achievements, or possessions.
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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.
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Vanity
A dressing table used to apply makeup, preen, and coif hair. The table is normally quite low and similar to a desk, with drawers and one or more mirrors on top. Either a chair or bench is used to sit upon.
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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.
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Vanity
A washbasin installed into a permanently fixed storage unit, used as an item of bathroom furniture.
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Pride
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation.
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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.
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Vanity
(obsolete) Any idea, theory or statement that is without foundation.
It is a vanity to say that if two stones are dropped from a tower, the heavier will experience the greater acceleration.
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Vanity
The quality or state of being vain; want of substance to satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness; falsity.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Here I may well show the vanity of that which is reported in the story of Walsingham.
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Vanity
An inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride inspired by an overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or decorations; an excessive desire for notice or approval; pride; ostentation; conceit.
The exquisitely sensitive vanity of Garrick was galled.
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Pride
Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness.
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Vanity
That which is vain; anything empty, visionary, unreal, or unsubstantial; fruitless desire or effort; trifling labor productive of no good; empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show; unsubstantial enjoyment.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher.
Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the certainty of things to come.
[Sin] with vanity had filled the works of men.
Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled,That all her vanities at once are dead;Succeeding vanities she still regards.
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Pride
Lust; sexual desire; especially, excitement of sexual appetite in a female animal.
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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.
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Vanity
A cabinet built around a bathroom sink, usually with a countertop and sometimes drawers.
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Vanity
The quality of being valueless or futile;
He rejected the vanities of the world
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Pride
(reflexive) To take or experience pride in something; to be proud of it.
I pride myself on being a good judge of character.
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Pride
A small European lamprey (Petromyzon branchialis); - called also prid, and sandpiper.
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Vanity
Low table with mirror or mirrors where one sits while dressing or applying makeup
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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.
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Dec 10, 2023
Vanity
Vanity can lead to an inflated sense of self-importance or egotism.
Her vanity blinded her to the needs and feelings of others around her.
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Dec 11, 2023
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.
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Dec 10, 2023
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.
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Dec 10, 2023
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.
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Dec 10, 2023
Pride
Show; ostentation; glory.
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.
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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.
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Pride
Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness; hence, lust; sexual desire; esp., an excitement of sexual appetite in a female beast.
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Dec 10, 2023
Pride
To indulge in pride, or self-esteem; to rate highly; to plume; - used reflexively.
Pluming and priding himself in all his services.
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Pride
Satisfaction with your (or another's) achievements;
He takes pride in his son's success
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Pride
The trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards
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Pride
Unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins)
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Pride
Pride refers to a justified confidence and consciousness of one's own worth.
His pride in his craft was evident in the quality of his work.
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Dec 11, 2023
Pride
Pride involves maintaining one's dignity and integrity in the face of adversity.
Despite the challenges, she maintained her pride and never gave up.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
How can vanity negatively affect relationships?
Vanity can damage relationships by fostering egotism and a lack of empathy for others.
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Dec 16, 2023
How does culture influence perceptions of pride and vanity?
Cultural values can greatly influence how pride and vanity are perceived and expressed.
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Dec 16, 2023
Is vanity always related to appearance?
While often related to appearance, vanity can also involve an excessive concern with one's abilities or status.
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Dec 16, 2023
What is a healthy level of pride?
Healthy pride is a balanced sense of self-worth based on real achievements or qualities.
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Is it possible to have pride without vanity?
Yes, it's possible to have pride without vanity by valuing oneself without needing excessive admiration.
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Can vanity lead to positive outcomes?
While often seen negatively, vanity can sometimes motivate self-improvement or success in appearance-focused fields.
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Dec 16, 2023
How does social media impact vanity?
Social media can amplify vanity by focusing on appearance and social status as metrics of worth.
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Can pride be negative?
Pride can become negative if it turns into arrogance or a refusal to acknowledge mistakes.
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Dec 16, 2023
How do pride and vanity differ in motivation?
Pride is internally motivated by genuine accomplishments, while vanity seeks external validation.
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Dec 16, 2023
How can one balance pride and humility?
Balancing pride and humility involves recognizing one's worth and achievements while remaining open and grounded.
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Can vanity affect one’s mental health?
Yes, vanity can lead to anxiety and dissatisfaction, particularly if one's self-worth is tied to external approval.
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What is the difference between self-esteem and vanity?
Self-esteem is a healthy self-respect, while vanity is an excessive concern with one's image or achievements.
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Dec 16, 2023
How does vanity affect one’s perception of others?
Vanity can lead to judging others based on superficial qualities rather than their intrinsic worth.
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How can one reduce vanity?
Reducing vanity involves focusing on internal values and achievements rather than external appearances and approval.
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Is national pride the same as personal pride?
National pride is a collective feeling for one's country, while personal pride is individual self-respect.
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Can vanity be a coping mechanism?
Sometimes, vanity can be a coping mechanism for insecurity or a desire for control.
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What role does vanity play in consumerism?
Vanity often drives consumerism, as people seek products that enhance their appearance or status.
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Can pride be a source of empowerment?
Yes, pride can be empowering, especially when it stems from overcoming challenges or embracing one's identity.
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Is pride always linked to personal achievements?
Pride can also be linked to group achievements or heritage, not just personal accomplishments.
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Can pride in one’s work be beneficial?
Yes, pride in one's work can lead to greater satisfaction and higher quality outcomes.
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Dec 16, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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