Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Deuteronomy 17:20/רמב"ן על דברים י״ז:כ׳
אלְבִלְתִּי רוּם לְבָבוֹ מֵאֶחָיו, נִרְמַז בְּכָאן בַּתּוֹרָה אִסּוּר הַגֵּאוּת, כִּי הַכָּתוּב יִמְנַע אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ מִגֵּאוּת וְרוֹמְמוּת הַלֵּב, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן הָאֲחֵרִים שֶׁאֵינָן רְאוּיִים לְכָךְ, כִּי בָּרָאוּי לְהִתְרוֹמֵם וּלְהִתְגַּדֵּל יַזְהִירֶנּוּ לִהְיוֹת לְבָבוֹ שָׁפֵל כְּכָל אֶחָיו הַקְּטַנִּים מִמֶּנּוּ, כִּי הַגַּאֲוָה מִדָּה מְגֻנָּה וְנִמְאֶסֶת אֵצֶל הָאֱלֹהִים אֲפִלּוּ בַּמֶּלֶךְ, כִּי לַה' לְבַדּוֹ הַגְּדֻלָּה וְהָרוֹמְמוּת, וְלוֹ לְבַדּוֹ הַתְּהִלָּה, וּבוֹ יִתְהַלֵּל הָאָדָם, כָּעִנְיָן הַמְּבֹאָר עַל יַד הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה (משלי טז ה), תּוֹעֲבַת הַשֵּׁם כָּל גְּבַהּ לֵב, וּכְתִיב (ירמיהו ט כג) כִּי אִם בְּזֹאת יִתְהַלֵּל הַמִּתְהַלֵּל הַשְׂכֵּל וְיָדֹעַ אוֹתִי וְגוֹ':
1THAT HIS HEART BE NOT LIFTED UP ABOVE HIS BRETHREN. Here in the Torah a prohibition against conceit is alluded to, for Scripture prohibited even the king from indulging in conceit and haughtiness of heart, surely other people who are not of such commendable excellence [or merit, are forbidden to be haughty]. Scripture has thus admonished him for whom it is proper to be haughty and majestic that his heart must be as humble as that of his brethren of lower status, because conceit is a reprehensible character-trait, and it is loathsome to G-d even in a king. To G-d alone is the greatness129, Verse 11. and exaltation,130 and to Him alone is the praise, and in [the knowledge of] Him may man glory, as the matter is explained by King Solomon, Every man that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Eternal.131 It is further written, But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth, and knoweth Me.132