Pride was an emotion which might cause someone to think highly of oneself, often unreasonably, (PROSE: The Ultimate Treasure, The Man in the Velvet Mask, Sanctuary) to hide one's pain, (PROSE: Harry Sullivan's War) to avoid a conversation, (PROSE: The Ultimate Treasure) or to place unfounded trust in an elected official one had voted for. (TV: The Sensorites) It was sometimes irrational, (TV: The Mark of the Rani) but gave a boost in confidence, sometimes necessary to perform a task, or to lead a group into battle. (PROSE: The Face-Eater)
False pride was hubris, a human sin. (TV: The Mysterious Planet)
One could have pride for one's offspring, (PROSE: Harry Sullivan's War) one's home, (PROSE: The English Way of Death, AUDIO: The Stuff of Nightmares) or one's employees, (TV: Adam) or feel the need to defend the pride of one's ancestors. (TV: Silence in the Library) One might have pride in their name, or reputation. (PROSE: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy)
One might also take pride in an ability, (PROSE: Head Games) or in the breadth or profusion of one's knowledge around a subject. (PROSE: Planet of Giants) Many prided themselves in an action they had taken, (PROSE: Unnatural History) an achievement, (PROSE: Demontage) or in a discovery. (PROSE: Nightshade) Kerstin Bergman took pride in her physical fitness, and therefore in the state of her body. (PROSE: Dominion) Sam Jones prided herself on her ethical principles. (PROSE: The Face-Eater)
According to the Valeyard, the Doctor took pride in his interference. (TV: The Mysterious Planet) The Sixth Doctor took pride in excellent craftsmanship, (TV: The Ultimate Foe) or in devices of his own creation. (PROSE: The Nightmare Fair) The Doctor sometimes had to sacrifice intellectual pride to solve a problem. (PROSE: The Nightmare Fair)
The First Rani, as a scientist, considered pride to be at odds with making rational decision-making, and would not let pride dictate her actions. The Tremas Master disagreed, however, and thought pride was more important than being enslaved to pure reason. (TV: The Mark of the Rani)
Pats on the back, or medals, (HOMEVID: Auton 3: Awakening) praise, (PROSE: The Taint) even simple head nods, could instill some people with pride. (PROSE: The Man in the Velvet Mask)
Pride could be detected in one's voice, (PROSE: The Ultimate Evil) or be seen in one's eyes (PROSE: The Ultimate Evil, Unnatural History, The Curse of Fenric) or smile, (PROSE: Dominion) and came out often as boasting. (TV: The Mysterious Planet) Pride sometimes made one feel taller, and increase both confidence and resolve. (PROSE: The Face-Eater)
According to Natasha Stengos, pride was not important at the moment of death. (TV: Revelation of the Daleks) The Tenth Doctor grew angry at Strackman Lux for putting everyone in the room in fatal danger, because to Lux, pride was more important. (TV: Silence in the Library)
Historians who had been allowed access to the "Monster Vaults" of the databanks in the Doctor's TARDIS observed that Abzorbaloffs liked to pride themselves on being gourmets. (PROSE: The Monster Vault)
The Thirteenth Doctor's companion Dan Lewis volunteered for his local food bank in Liverpool. Due to his considerate nature, he'd refuse to take food home out of pride, knowing he had no food at home. (TV: The Halloween Apocalypse)
Damaged pride[]
Pride could also be hurt, or damaged. (TV: Terminus, PROSE: Head Games, K9 and Company) Falling "flat on one's face" could hurt one's pride, (AUDIO: The Paradise of Death) as could begging for help (PROSE: The Eye of the Giant) or mercy. (TV: Revelation of the Daleks) David Ferraro's pride was hurt when he felt he had been used, "like a feeble-minded fool", not like the "hard man" he thought he was. (PROSE: The Eye of the Giant) To challenge an expert's methods or opinion might hurt their professional pride. (PROSE: The Also People, TV: The Invasion) The loss of pride could make one feel "dirty" inside. (PROSE: The Eye of the Giant)
Pride as weakness[]
Leela equated pride to courage and "manhood". (TV: The Sun Makers)
Pride caused Harry Sullivan to pretend that he was fine, as an instinctive macho persona took over when Samantha helped lift him from the ground. He flexed his arm muscles to add to the effect. When Samantha pointed out that he was trying to prove something, he grew embarrassed. (PROSE: Harry Sullivan's War)
Like the First Rani, (TV: The Mark of the Rani) Davros considered pride a weakness. He told the Supreme Dalek to beware his pride, when he detected a tone of victory over the Tenth Doctor. (TV: The Stolen Earth)
Lack of pride[]
The First Doctor noted pride as an example of emotions to the CyberMondan leader Krail, along with hate, love and fear. He questioned, "Have you no emotions, sir?" (TV: The Tenth Planet, Twice Upon a Time)
Unlike the Cybermen, Daleks could feel pride, (PROSE: Remembrance of the Daleks, TV: The Stolen Earth) as well as hate. (TV: Dalek, Death to the Daleks) The Tenth Doctor noted that individual pride had been engineered out non-leader Daleks. When faced with the Dalek Prime Strategist's claim of using a rusted Dalek War Machine out of pride, the Doctor concluded that the Strategist's claims of pride were a lie as a coping mechanism for being confined to the relic. (COMIC: Defender of the Daleks)
Jack Harkness was concerned that he felt no pride or warmth for Adam Smith, unlike everyone else on his Torchwood team. This was because Adam had inserted himself into their memories, only recently. (TV: Adam)
Behind the scenes[]
As one of the seven deadly sins, pride is the theme of The 57th, the fifth short story in Short Trips: Seven Deadly Sins.