約翰．泰勒（John Taylor）是18世紀英國的一位眼科醫生，由於高傲自大，他為自己捏造顯赫的名聲。他刻意接近名人，甚至還成為英王喬治二世的御用眼科醫生。泰勒走遍英國各地舉行醫學表演，聲稱可以神奇地治癒各種眼疾，然後帶著村民支付的大筆醫藥費，趁著夜色偷偷離開小鎮。根據歷史記載，泰勒其實是個江湖騙子，很可能造成幾百位病人失明。他在歷史上留名，不是因他醫術出眾，而是因他讓該世紀最偉大的兩位作曲家巴哈與韓德爾失明了。

泰勒渴望得到名聲及讚揚，但他留給後世的卻只有謊言，以及他帶給別人的羞辱與傷害。箴言指出，自負的慾望最終導致毀滅：「敗壞之先，人心驕傲」（18章12節）。泰勒可恥的行為告誡我們，高傲自大會毀掉人的一生，而一個人的愚昧，往往也會傷害別人（6-7節）。這種「敗壞」確實極大！

一顆驕傲的心會摧毀我們和他人，但一顆謙卑的心卻會引領我們得到滿有意義及喜樂的生命。正如箴言接著說：「尊榮以前，必有謙卑」（12節）。若我們只是一味自私地追求個人的利益（1節），絕對無法得到自己所渴望的。然而，若我們願意全心順服上帝，並且服事他人，就能尊榮上帝，並反映祂的美善。

John Taylor was a British eye surgeon in the 1700s who, driven by arrogance, fabricated a prestigious reputation. He pursued celebrities and became the personal eye doctor for King George II. Taylor traveled the country performing medical shows that promised miracle cures, often escaping towns under the cover of night carrying bags overflowing with villagers’ cash. However, records suggest Taylor was a charlatan and likely blinded hundreds of patients. History remembers him not as a medical luminary but as the man who destroyed the eyesight of two of the century’s greatest composers: Bach and Händel.

Taylor craved reputation and acclaim, but his legacy declares his lies, and the embarrassment and hurt he caused. Proverbs explains how egotistical addictions lead to devastation. “Before a downfall,” we read, “the heart is haughty” (18:12). Taylor’s disgrace warns us of how arrogance can ruin our lives, but one’s foolishness often harms others too (vv. 6-7). The “downfall” is great indeed.

While a proud heart destroys us and others, a humble heart leads toward a life of meaning and joy. “Humility comes before honor,” the proverb says (v. 12). If we selfishly pursue only self-interests (v. 1), we’ll never find what we crave. If we yield our heart to God and serve others, however, we honor Him and reflect His goodness.