The feeling of pride—the pleasure we derive from our particular achievements—is the emotional concomitant of the virtue of pride. This feeling is part of self-esteem (to be discussed later), but more specific and limited. Contrary to a common misconception, pride does not depend on a sense of "superiority" to others, and it therefore should not be confused with arrogance or haughtiness. An authentically proud person does not define self-worth by comparison to others, but takes pleasure in his or her moral actions, considered on their own merits.

Altruism, in contrast to egoism, denounces pride as a sin and enshrines humility (its opposite) as a virtue. The altruistic view of pride as a sin follows from the fact that the altruist's code cannot be practiced consistently, so that every man or woman is regarded as a sinner (cf. pp. 3.7:2-4). Furthermore, just as altruism assumes that values must be obtained by exploiting others (pp. 3.8:2), it likewise assumes that pride must derive from invidious comparisons with others. How ingrained the altruistic view of pride is in our culture can be appreciated by considering the many films, novels, and television dramas embodying the theme: "Pride goeth before the fall." The hubristic arrogance of the protagonist, it should be noted, is almost invariably conflated with feelings of authentic pride.

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