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What is the meaning of getting vain in the following sentence?
The alcoholic needs to be free to choose without our getting vain if the message is used, or angry or discouraged if it is ignored.
This sentence is from one of AA pamphlets called "A.A. in TREATMENT SETTINGS."
It doesn't really make much sense in everyday English... but I read it as without getting big-headed or self-righteous. Basically meaning that "we should not believe we are better than you". I think the issue here is that this sentence can mean different things to different people so this is just my interpretation.
Edit: To expand on this, the word 'vain' usually means to be in love with yourself, which doesn't fit in with the sentence you quoted. This is why it is a difficult sentence to explain accurately.
