O God of earth and altar,
Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
Our people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us,
The swords of scorn divide,
Take not thy thunder from us,
But take away our pride. – G. K. Chesterton

And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Where there are no tigers, a wild cat is very self-important. – Proverb

None are more haughty than a common place person raised to power. – Proverb