Own Importance

We generally consider ourselves very important and competent. We like and preach our ideas. We often require adulation from others for our point of view about life. We remain happy and satisfied as long as people around us admire and appreciate us. But we do not want others to criticise and condemn us. Perhaps we have zero tolerance for others' opinion about us but on the other hand we usually pass remarks about others blantantly. Why all this happens ? do we lack moral courage to examine our behavior neutrally??