Pride and ego can be positive things for us if we understand these things fully. For this a person has to evaluate his/her inner self. Self assessment is necessary in every walk of life. When we stop seeing things inside us, problems begin to mount. So, introspection becomes important.
Ego is a bad element because an egoistic person don't want others to be more successful than him/her. When our competitors surpass us, we feel our ego is hurt. However, one should be positive. Instead of becoming dejected and disheartened, one should try to excel in life. One should have a feeling of competition in one's mind. One should say to oneself "if that person can do it, I also can do it" It becomes a source of inspiration for one. But, negative people try to pull the leg of someone who is going ahead of them.
Pride is a bad thing when a person becomes too much self-centered. Pride should be transformed in self-respect. Sense of self-respect keeps us doing something which is bad or evil. It all depends on a person what he thinks about himself.