On Self-Conceit, Arrogance, and Greed

One trait of this commanding, sinful self is conceit, a strange demon that devours people. What is conceit? It is when the wretched soul plots to rate itself above every living thing. It looks only inward at itself, and so it stays blind to the fact of death. Conceit draws its strength from feeding desire; the conceited man is God's own enemy. From this trait arrogance is born, just as smoke rises from a burning fire. Conceit lies hidden deep inside; arrogance shows itself openly to others. Arrogance is claiming to stand above another; whoever carries this trait is an ass. The trait of arrogance belongs, in the end, to leopards; God forbid that it should belong to a human being. You leopard, wounding your own body and soul, beware: you will be ruined by nothing more than a mouse's urine! Once your leopard nature has wounded you, my clever one, that vile mouse will piss on you in that very moment. And a mouse's urine is nothing but envy; remember this point if you have any sense. From arrogance rises wretched greed; greed, in truth, is that filthy mouse. You will not carry your life out of this world, you unfinished soul, even if you are a roaring lion. That is all.