Conceptualization of pride in proverbs and aphorisms

The article deals with evaluative characteristics of pride as a mental entity in Russian culture. Proverbs and aphorisms have been analyzed. This concept is central in the semantic field of personal social status evaluation and it is specified in several directions: 1) intention to show up; 2) intention to outmatch others; 3) demonstration of one's significance; 4) demonstration of disrespect to others; 5) imitation of meekness. These personal features have a detailed nomination in lexical system and mostly receive a negative evaluation. Proverbs usually criticize pride, and the Russian mode of such criticism is to characterize those with excessive self-evaluation in an ironical way. Aphoristic view on pride is different as it is depicted with both positive and negative evaluation. Conceptualization of pride reflects a contradiction between personal self-evaluation and its outside qualification given by community.