Chapter 21: The deans of the monastery

If any of the deans are affected by some breath of pride which lays them open to adverse criticism, they should be corrected once or twice or even three times. (From para. 2 of Ch. 21 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)

"Breath of pride" seems to me a good metaphor for the subtle way ego can infiltrate even my best-intended actions. I take an opportunity to be of service, but it may become an opportunity to control, unless I continue to grow in self-knowledge.