Pride Facts for Kids

A young athlete showing pride after a competition.

Pride is a feeling of being good and worthy. It's when you feel happy and satisfied with yourself or with someone you care about. The word we use to describe someone feeling pride is proud.

The word pride can be used in two main ways: a good way and a not-so-good way.

What Does Good Pride Mean?
What Does Bad Pride Mean?
- Too Much Self-Importance
- Arrogance and Overconfidence
Images for kids
See also

What Does Good Pride Mean?

Feeling Good About Yourself

When we talk about pride in a good way, it means having self-respect. This is when you feel good about who you are and what you can do. It's a healthy feeling of confidence.

Being Proud of Achievements

People often feel proud when they have done something well. For example, you might feel proud after finishing a difficult project at school or winning a sports game. This kind of pride shows you are satisfied with your hard work and success.

You can also feel proud of others. Parents might be proud of their son or daughter for doing well. You might feel proud of a friend who achieves something great. This shows you care about them and their successes.

Pride in Your Country

Feeling proud of your country is called patriotism. It means you have a strong love and loyalty for your home country. This is usually seen as a good thing, showing respect for your nation's history and values. The opposite of feeling proud is feeling ashamed.

What Does Bad Pride Mean?

Too Much Self-Importance

Sometimes, pride can mean that someone thinks they are much better than everyone else. This is an exaggerated feeling of self-importance. It can mean they do not respect what other people do, only what they themselves do.

Arrogance and Overconfidence

Someone who shows this kind of bad pride might be called arrogant. An arrogant person often acts like they are superior to others. This can lead to problems, as shown in the saying: "Pride comes before a fall." This means that if someone is too confident and thinks they can't fail, they might soon face a disaster or a big mistake. Another similar saying is: "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (from Proverbs 16:18).

Images for kids

Allegory of pride, from circa 1590–1630, engraving, 22.3 cm x 16.6 cm, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)
Pride, from the Seven Deadly Sins by Jacob Matham c. 1592.
The Father and Mother by Boardman Robinson depicting War as the offspring of Greed and Pride.
Bed Push at Mad Pride parade in Cologne, Germany, in 2016
Pride parade, Düsseldorf 2017
Detail of "Pride" in The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things by Hieronymus Bosch
Jacques Callot, Pride (Vanity), probably after 1621