Is a pride the enemy or friend of nonviolence?

I think it might be easier for you to understand the meaning if this quotation were split into two sentences:

1) "Anger is the enemy of nonviolence."

2) "Pride is the monster that swallows [nonviolence] up."

Thus, pride is not the "enemy", it is the "monster". Of course, the point Gandhi is trying to make is that both emotions, anger and pride, are obstacles to a perso

YoungCalifornianThus, pride is not the "enemy", it is the "monster". Of course, the point Gandhi is trying to make is that both emotions, anger and pride, are obstacles to a person striving to keep on a nonviolent path

I re-read your answer many times
still staying confused:

• pride is not the "enemy" ---> pride is a friend of non-violence

The monster swallows nonviolence; that is, the monster eats/kills/destroys nonviolence. It's a metaphor. The monster stands for pride. Therefore, pride destroys nonviolence.

Gandhi isn't using the word "enemy" to describe pride, but neither is he drawing a distinction between "enemy" and "pride". He's just using a different metaphor for each emotion. Anger is an enemy, pride is a mo

Thasnks, you are great!

I should have guessed because pride is one of the seven deadly/cardnal sins.

Though, I am perplexed when someone saturates his very short bio by associating himself wit a deadly sin:

• "Proud American. Conservative. Writer. Attorney. Movie Critic & Cultural Observer. Investigative Journal

Pride is a complex emotion. As you noted it is a viewed as a sin, but it can also be seen as a virtue at times. It's kind of like a continuum with confidence (which is good) at one end and arrogance (which is bad) at the other.

When pride leads us to vanity, an inflated ego, a condescending view of others, a lack of humility, or an inability to see or admit our own faults, it is undoub

nothing is the enemy of ones but his way acting and living.