Extreme pride or dejection indicates extreme ignorance of self.
Meaning
Spinoza claims in the Ethics that both inflated pride and deep self-contempt come from not understanding oneself accurately. Check this in daily life by listing your actual strengths and weaknesses after a big win or setback, so neither feeling distorts your view.
Source: Ethics, Part IV, Prop. LV (1677)
About the author
(1632–1677) was a Dutch philosopher considered one of the most important rationalists of the 17th century. His work laid the foundation for the Enlightenment and modern biblical criticism. Spinoza’s philosophy emphasized reason, ethics, and the unity of nature, presenting a vision of God as identical with the natural world. His most famous work, "Ethics," explores human emotions, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness through rational understanding. Though controversial in his time, his ideas later gained widespread recognition. Spinoza’s influence extends across philosophy, science, and political theory, making him a key figure in the development of modern thought.
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