Pride without the fall

Our Sages condemned haughtiness of spirit, yet a talmid chacham should have a small measure of pride to keep his self-respect, so that others will value his words. The Gemara in Sotah (5a) teaches that this pride should not exceed one eighth of one eighth, or one part in sixty-four. Rav Avraham, in the name of his father Rav Yehuda Tzvi, explained where this proportion comes from. Yaakov Avinu says, "Katonti," that he is unworthy of all the kindness and truth Hashem has shown him, and this appears in the eighth verse of the eighth parsha of the Torah. The number eight, repeated twice, points to one part in sixty-four.