The story is told that one evening a man in a Dearborn, Michigan, restaurant bumped into no less than the famous Chrysler chairman, Lee Iacocca. "Oh, Mr. Iacocca," the man exclaimed, "what an honor to meet you! Say, my name is Jack and I'm having a business dinner with some colleagues over there at that corner table. It would really impress my friends if you could come over in a few minutes and say, 'Hi, Jack,' like you know me!" Iacocca good-naturedly agreed and so some minutes later went over to the table and said, "Hello, Jack! How are you?" Jack then looked up and said, "Not now, Lee. We're busy!"

This perhaps apocryphal story underscores the core of pride: we always want to look more powerful and impressive than we really are. Or at very least we want to take what we already have in life and use it as a pedestal from which to look down on as many people as we can (while also hoping, of course, that all of those people will return the favor and so look up to us). It is no accident that the images typically associated with pride have to do with height: the proud are said to look down their noses at others, are said to always be riding their high horse, are said to have a lofty opinion of themselves and a soaring ego.

The pharisees saw themselves that way. High above everyone elses pay-grade. God knew them best and approved their status, so they thought. 

Note: Don Rickles used to tell the same story about him and Frank Sinatra, where Rickles is trying to impress a lady he had taken to dinner.