It is impossible to be arrogant and have wisdom. The presence of pride precludes the presence of wisdom. Pride suggests to the individual that he already knows everything he needs to know, that he already sees as clearly as it is possible to see, that his insight is clear and complete. The individual, therefore, does not seek the wisdom and advice of others, or if he does, he does not really listen to the wisdom of others, unless it matches the conclusion he has already reached, because he believes his perspective to already be perfect.
Arrogant people are prone to miscommunications, believing as they do that they always have a complete understanding of what other people are about, what other people mean to communicate. They assume implied meanings to other people’s communication, reading insults and slanderings where there are none. This is because arrogance often comes at a price, even though the individual does not know it. Despite the arrogance, despite the overpowering self-confidence, arrogant people are also usually extremely self-conscious and insecure, harboring fears and worries that their braggadocio attempts to cover. They fear failure, they fear rejection, and to compensate they boast and swagger and claim wisdom and insight where there is none, mocking those who they view as having no wisdom, all in the effort to prove to everyone else how valuable they are and how worthy they are of love and attention.
Everyone but the prideful knows the truth, however, knows that wisdom and insight are figments of the individual’s mind, that the individual is, in fact, a fool, made all the more so by his continued attempts to prove his value and worth.
I know about these things — I have often been the one who is prideful and arrogant.
bq. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Prov. 11:2
