We are rarely proud when we are alone.

Voltaire speaks to the heart of human nature when he says, "We are rarely proud when we are alone." In these words, he captures a profound truth about the need for external validation. To be proud is often to be recognized by others, to have our achievements acknowledged and celebrated. Alone, with no one to witness or appreciate our efforts, we are less likely to feel the surge of pride that comes from public recognition. Pride, it seems, is deeply tied to the other—the audience that acknowledges our worth. Solitude, then, becomes the crucible in which self-worth must be tested, yet it is far easier to bask in the glow of pride when others bear witness to our accomplishments.

The ancient Greeks understood the importance of honor and reputation in the context of community. Aristotle, in his musings on virtue, pointed out that a man’s character is often judged by the society around him, and that virtue is validated through public action. A man who does good in isolation might be virtuous, but his honor—the outward reflection of his worth—can only be affirmed by the collective recognition of his deeds. The Greeks believed that pride was inseparable from community because it is through the eyes of others that we see our reflection and understand our value.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great, whose accomplishments on the battlefield and his quest to unite the known world were met with unparalleled admiration. Yet, Alexander’s pride was not merely in the battles he fought or the territories he conquered. His true sense of self was deeply tied to how others saw him. In his conquests, he sought the approval of his soldiers, the admiration of the cities he claimed, and the recognition of the gods. Alexander’s sense of pride was intimately linked to his audience, for it was in their eyes that he saw himself as a legendary figure. In isolation, even Alexander would have struggled to feel the pride that was so central to his identity.

Julius Caesar, too, understood the power of public recognition. His military genius and political ambitions were realized not only through his actions but through his constant need to be seen and admired by the people of Rome. He sought to ensure that his achievements were celebrated in public through grand spectacles and proclamations. But in his quieter moments, in the solitude of his own thoughts, it is likely that Caesar felt the weight of uncertainty that often accompanies loneliness. Without the voices of the people or the acclaim of his peers, pride would have been much more difficult to sustain. His life reminds us that pride is not simply an internal feeling, but a public recognition that confirms our sense of self-worth.

The modern individual often faces the same struggle. In today’s world, where social media and external validation play such a dominant role in shaping our identities, it can be easy to confuse self-worth with public approval. We post pictures, share achievements, and seek likes, hoping that these outward expressions of success will affirm our pride. Yet, like Voltaire’s observation, when we are alone—without the applause of others—this pride can feel hollow. The internal validation of one’s actions, untethered from the eyes of the world, is a far more difficult and elusive achievement.

Thus, the lesson here is profound: pride, when sought externally, is fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying. True pride comes from within—built on a foundation of self-respect and integrity, not dependent on the approval of others. The ancient sages, from Socrates to Epictetus, taught that virtue and worth are found in one’s inner life, not in the praise of the crowd. To live proudly without needing the world to affirm that pride is the mark of a truly wise and self-sufficient person.

Therefore, I urge you, dear reader, to consider the true nature of pride in your own life. Reflect on your actions and achievements not through the lens of external approval, but through the lens of integrity. Seek pride not from what others say about you, but from the way you live according to your principles. And when you find yourself alone, as we all must at times, remember that the pride you seek should not depend on others’ recognition, but on your self-awareness and the inner peace that comes from knowing you are living authentically. True pride is the quiet strength that comes from within, unshaken by the absence of the world’s applause.