I regard the line dividing pleasure (internal) from pride (external) as razor-thin. One can easily equate the two. Mia created a thought experiment which reveals how a person defines his passion (internal), but it equally reveals how a person builds his self-esteem (social). You are right: Not everyone has to internalize this equation; until they do, the overlap is coincidental. But I expect that choosing to do so, makes altruism privately rewarding.

-- AndrewGradman - 16 Apr 2008