We may say with St Thomas, that this craving of ours to be esteemed, respected and honored is an effect of original sin, like concupiscence which remains to us even after our baptism; but God has ordained that these appetites and desires should remain in us in order that we might have occasion of mortifying ourselves and by such means we might gain the kingdom of heaven.

We need not be astonished nor sad when we feel these instincts within us. They belong to the wickedness of our corrupt nature and are remnants of the temptation of our first parents by the serpent, when he said to them: And you shall be as gods. Therefore, I repeat that these desires which arise from the weakness and depravity of our human nature must be borne with patience. If these desires gain: the mastery over us, it is because we have encouraged and given way to them; and a bad habit which we have formed ourselves can only be cured by ourselves, and therefore the mortification of the same also lies with us.  —‘Humility of Heart’ by Gaetano (Cajetan) Maria da Bergamo