42. To his friend Cuno

Anselm, servant of the Church of Canterbury, to his beloved friend Cuno, greeting.

Your gentleness desires that of the three kinds of pride concerning which I spoke to you, I would by letter recall to your mind two which have escaped your memory. I said that they are three: one of thought, that is, when anyone thinks of himself more highly than he ought to think; against which it is said, "Be not high-minded, but fear," and which he denies to exist in himself, who says: "Lord, I am not high-minded, I have no proud looks." Another is of will, when anyone wants to be treated with more consideration than is his due; against which is said, "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another?" Another is in deed; against which saith the Lord, "When thou art bidden of any to a wedding, sit not To his Friend Cuno. 185 down in the highest room." This when a man treats himself better than he ought. Against each of these forms many sayings are found in holy Scripture if they are sought out. Against all it is said, "Whoso exalteth himself shall be humbled," and "God resisteth the proud." And many other passages there are. Of these three, when each one is by itself, that is the least which is in deed only, because it is done through ignorance alone; and yet since it is a fault, it ought to be amended. Of the other two, that which is in will alone is the more to be condemned, because it errs knowingly. But that which is in thought, is only the more foolish, since it does not manifest itself, and to itself appears quite right. If therefore these three forms of pride be considered each singly, they may be called simply three; but if they are taken two by two, they will be found to be three double forms. If three be united at once, there will be one triple pride; and so there are seven, — three simple, three duplex, one triple. Opposed to these forms of pride are divisions of humility, that is, that one should think humbly of one's self, and as regards the estimation of our relation to others wish humbly for one's self, act towards one's self humbly. For each form of pride a man is called proud; but as to the various parts of humility, even for two, unless all the parts are there together, a man is not called humble; just as a man is said to be ill when one limb is ailing, but we do not say he is well, unless healthy in every limb. I have thus brought this briefly to the remembrance of your affection. If your prudence will frequently reconsider it, you will understand it more fully than is here set down. Farewell, and pray for me, that as God has given me to comprehend pride and humility, so He may give me to avoid the one, and acquire the other. Greet my lord and friend, the bishop, for me.