quotations about humility
Humility is often merely feigned submissiveness assumed in order to subject others, an artifice of pride which stoops to conquer, and although pride has a thousand ways of transforming itself it is never so well disguised and able to take people in as when masquerading as humility.
LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Sentences et Maximes Morales
Humility consists in a low opinion of one's self, and in a contempt of vain glory. He that shines with this noble grace, is a person whose high imaginations have been cast down; not by the force of moral precepts, but by the mighty weapons of the christian warfare. Once he thought he was something, now he sees that he is nothing. Once he was desirous that other men should think highly of him, and he loved to have the preeminence; but now he can, in some sincerity, say, with the royal Psalmist, "Mine heart is not haughty, neither are mine eyes lofty. I have behaved and quieted myself as a child weaned of his mother. My soul is even as a weaned child." Shall we describe him in relation to his neighbor, and to his God?
WILLIAM MCEWEN
"On Humility", Select Essays Doctrinal & Practical on a Variety of the Most Important and Interesting Subjects in Divinity
In the intellectual order, the virtue of humility is nothing more nor less than the power of attention.
SIMONE WEIL
Gravity and Grace
Those who are capable of humility, of justice, of love, of aspiration, stand already on a platform that commands the sciences and arts, speech and poetry, action and grace. For whoso dwells in this moral beatitude already anticipates those special powers which men prize so highly.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
"The Over-Soul", Essays
I must reduce myself to zero. So long as a man does not of his own free will put himself last among his fellow creatures, there is no salvation for him.
MAHATMA GANDHI
An Autobiography
Poverty is a noose that strangles humility and breeds disrespect for God and man.
NATIVE AMERICAN PROVERB
Humility provides everyone, even him who despairs in solitude, with the strongest relationship to his fellow man, and this immediately, though, of course, only in the case of complete and permanent humility.
FRANZ KAFKA
notebook, Feb. 24, 1918
Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues: hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.
AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
attributed, Christian Spirit
Humility is not thinking meanly of yourself; it is simply not thinking of yourself at all.
WARREN W. WIERSBE
The Bible Exposition Commentary
If you see any thing in yourself which may make you proud, look a little further, and you will find enough to make you humble.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Humility means accepting reality with no attempt to outsmart it.
DAVID RICHO
The Five Things We Cannot Change: And the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them
The saints in every age have gloried in thee, as a most distinguishing ingredient in their character; and according to their eminency, has been their measure of humility. The high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, and will not give his glory to another, when from his high and holy place he views men and their works, he turns away disdainful from the pompous palaces of mighty kings, the courts of popes and sultans, and throws a favorable glance toward the humble cottage of him in whose heart thou dwellest.
WILLIAM MCEWEN
"On Humility", Select Essays Doctrinal & Practical on a Variety of the Most Important and Interesting Subjects in Divinity
Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
Humility, like darkness, reveals the heavenly lights.
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Walden
True humility is the certain mark of a bright reason, and elevated soul, as being the natural consequence of them. When we come to have our minds cleared by reason from those thick mists that our disorderly passions cast about them; when we come to discern more perfectly, and consider more nearly, the immense power and goodness, the infinite glory and duration of God; and, to make a comparison between these perfections of his, and our own frailty and weakness, and the shortness and uncertainty of our beings, we should humble ourselves even unto the dust before him.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Humility is also a healing virtue; it will cicatrize a
thousand wounds, which pride would keep forever open.
WASHINGTON ALLSTON
Lectures on Art and Poems
Humility is the oil that smoothes and soothes relationships.
RICHARD WARREN
The Purpose Driven Life
Through failure, we learn a lesson in humility which is probably needed, painful though it is.
BILL WILSON
As Bill Sees It
Humility with energy is often mistaken for pride.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
How happy in his low degree,
How rich in humble poverty, is he,
Who leads a quiet country life;
Discharged of business, void of strife.
JOHN DRYDEN
Imitation of Horace