Google the word Pride and you will find close to 7 million entries. Extrapolate company names, books, productions and works of art from the list and the digital portal affirms the myriad of applications that accompany and embrace the womb of sinfulness.

Pride is not just an emotion or as Thomas Aquinas stated in Summa Theologica, the root of every sin. Pride is the great motivator for 21st Century success and accomplishment. While humility lays dormant hidden in the closet of archaic virtues; Pride strides down the catway as a model for all to admire.

Pride did not emerge from the idea we call America but, undoubtedly, this anti-virtue is as American as apple pie. Pride embraced slavery, while humility gave birth to abolition. Pride fills the coffers while humility weeps for the children in Darfur, Iraq and the third world. Pride tortures, while humility applies justice. Pride spends, while humility shares. Pride looks inward and says believe in yourself. Humility looks upward and says, “Believe in something greater than self”. Pride walks upright, shoulders back, and eyes straight, while humility kneels down, head inclined and ears open to advice. Pride seeks recognition, while humility seeks righteousness.

Pride stems from the union of success and self-accreditation. However, pride never stands alone. Pride engages in flirtatious activity with envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth, yet arrogance always seems to draw closest.

Why do great empires and the vast majority of corporations and relationships fail? Pride. Pride walks down the runway of the 21st century human stage, meanwhile humility stands poised to appear at the precise moment where arrogance falls, pride collapses and Grace renders a silent introduction.