Franklin points to the tendency of proud people to recognise and dislike pride more readily in others than in themselves. The remark is ironic: someone who strongly objects to another person’s vanity or self-importance may be displaying the same characteristic without noticing it. Pride can therefore affect not only behaviour but also the way people judge those around them.

The saying is less a claim that every criticism of pride is hypocritical than a warning about self-awareness. Traits that provoke irritation in others may sometimes resemble qualities a person is reluctant to acknowledge in themselves. Franklin’s broader lesson is that criticism should be accompanied by self-examination. Before condemning another person’s arrogance, it may be worth considering whether the same standard is being applied consistently to one’s own conduct.