The fourth step of pride: boasting.54
Ladders your face in your hands, tighten your lips, clench your teeth.
It is no use! The laughter must burst out and if your hand holds it in your mouth, it bursts out through your nose.
The fourth step of pride: boasting When vanity has swelled the bladder to its limits, a bigger vent must be made or the bladder will burst. As your silly merriment grows, laughing is not enough outlet. You say like Elihu: "Behold, my heart is like new wine that has no vent, like new wineskins it is ready to burst." Yes, speak or burst! You are full of words and the swelling spirit strains within you. Your hunger and thirst are for listeners, some one to listen to your boasting, on whom you can pour out all your thoughts, someone you can show what a big person you are.
At last the chance to speak comes. The discussion turns on literature. You bring forth from your treasury old things and new. You are not shy about producing your opinions, words are bubbling over. You do not wait to be asked. Your information comes before any question. You ask the ques tions, give the answers, cut off anyone who tries to speak.
When the time comes and it is necessary to interrupt the conversation, hour-long though it be, you seek a minute more. You must get leave to resume your talk, not to edify your listeners, but to show off your learning. You may have the capacity to help others, but that is the least of your concerns. Your aim is not to teach nor to be taught, but to show how much you know. If the conversation brings up the subject of religion, you are quite ready to talk of visions and dreams. You warmly recommend fasting, urge watching and exalt prayer above all. You will give a long discourse on patience and humility and each of the other virtues — all words, all bragging. You trust that they will draw the