Does fulfilling one item of a checklist mean that a person is prideful?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the spiritual life of the Coptic Orthodox Church, we recognize that pride is not merely a single act but a state of the heart. However, fulfilling even one item on the checklist is a clear indication that the seed of pride is present and active within the soul.

St. John Climacus and the Desert Fathers teach that the passions (vices) are interconnected. Pride is the "king" of all passions; it is the root from which others grow. If you find even one of these symptoms in your life, you must treat it with great seriousness for the following reasons:

1. The "Root and Branch" Principle

If you experience anger when criticized (defensiveness), that anger is the "branch," but pride is the "root" feeding it. You cannot have the branch without the root. Therefore, fulfilling one item is the diagnostic proof that the root of pride is buried in the heart.

2. A Matter of Degree

Spiritual life is a spectrum. We all struggle with pride to some extent; only God is perfectly humble. Fulfilling one item doesn't necessarily mean you are a "son of pride" in the same way the devil is, but it means you are currently infected by it. The goal of the Christian life is to be "perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Even a small amount of pride is enough to cloud your spiritual vision and hinder your union with Jesus Christ.

3. The Warning of the Fathers

The Holy Fathers warn that pride is so deceptive that it can hide behind nine virtues and wait for one moment of self-satisfaction to destroy them all. As mentioned in the writings of St. Ambrose, avarice and pride dull the senses. If you find yourself judging others (one item), you have already set yourself up as a judge in place of God, which is the very essence of pride.

How to Respond

If you recognize one of these traits in yourself, do not be despondent, for despondency is another trick of the enemy. Instead:

• Acknowledge it: Bring this specific point to your Father of Confession.
• Practice the Opposite: If you struggle with vainglory, perform your good deeds in secret. If you struggle with judgment, force yourself to pray for the person you are judging.
• Seek Humility: Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

In short, while fulfilling one item does not mean you have reached the "fullness" of pride, it is a spiritual "red flag" indicating that your soul needs the medicine of humility and the grace of the Holy Spirit found in the Sacraments of the Church.