Humbleness Quotes

“A great man is always willing to be little.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I examined the poets, and I look on them as people whose talent overawes both themselves and others, people who present themselves as wise men and are taken as such, when they are nothing of the sort.

From poets, I moved to artists. No one was more ignorant about the arts than I; no one was more convinced that artists possessed really beautiful secrets. However, I noticed that their condition was no better than that of the poets and that both of them have the same misconceptions. Because the most skillful among them excel in their specialty, they look upon themselves as the wisest of men. In my eyes, this presumption completely tarnished their knowledge. As a result, putting myself in the place of the oracle and asking myself what I would prefer to be — what I was or what they were, to know what they have learned or to know that I know nothing — I replied to myself and to the god: I wish to remain who I am.

We do not know — neither the sophists, nor the orators, nor the artists, nor I— what the True, the Good, and the Beautiful are. But there is this difference between us: although these people know nothing, they all believe they know something; whereas, I, if I know nothing, at least have no doubts about it. As a result, all this superiority in wisdom which the oracle has attributed to me reduces itself to the single point that I am strongly convinced that I am ignorant of what I do not know.”
― Socrates

“But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room that I this day declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.”
― George Washington

“Consumption can be a remedy against boredom and may convey a sense of fictitious power and supremacy, by standing out from the crowd through the extravagance of the expenditure. As it becomes an addiction, however, it might be cured, if the right medication is administered : humbleness and mindful discovery of the others. (“Buying now, dying later”)”
― Erik Pevernagie

“We are a culture that relies on technology over community, a society in which spoken and written words are cheap, easy to come by, and excessive. Our culture says anything goes; fear of God is almost unheard of. We are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry.”
― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

“You must be humble, as it is one of the greatest [forms of] worship.”
― Ali Ibn Abi Talib A.S

“Common sense is our seventh sense that is guiding our personality. It embraces all other secured senses growing in the shadow of humbleness without being dissipated by disputes, showdowns, or down-right self-righteousness. ("Wit of the staircase")”
― Erik Pevernagie

“If we are out of step with the priorities of real life and feel lost in the anarchy of our feelings, we must assert our humbleness and assume we need the shine of a guiding lighthouse in our emotional odyssey. ("Camera obscura of the mind")”
― Erik Pevernagie

“Humility is to make a right estimate of oneself.”
― Charles H. Spurgeon

“Recognizing our littleness in nature's splendors instills humbleness, and finding joy in "the sparkle of a stray instant" transforms the ordinary into the unique, the mundane into the magical. (Love, Happiness, and Insight)”
― Erik Pevernagie

“Whenever I'm with my mother, I feel as though I have to spend the whole time avoiding land mines.”
― Amy Tan, The Hundred Secret Senses

“If you feel deserve to judge the arrogant,
it's a sign that you're so far of humbleness.”
― Toba Beta, Master of Stupidity

“People who live with their head in the clouds deserve to hit the ground every once in a while.”
― Keigo Higashino, ナミヤ雑貨店の奇蹟

“A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.”
― Robert E. Lee

“How sweet is that? I know I'm no boy expert, but I have heard entire lectures on reading body language, and I have to say that assuming that a person will have forgotten your name is way high on my "indicators of humbleness" list (not that I have one, but I totally have a starting point now).”
― Ally Carter, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

“Selflessness is humility. ... humility and freedom go hand in hand. Only a humble person can be free.”
― Jeff Wilson, Buddhism of the Heart: Reflections on Shin Buddhism and Inner Togetherness

“As the sun does not wait for prayers and incantations tob e induced to rise, but immediately shines and is saluted by all, so do you also not wait for clappings of hands and shouts of praise tob e induced to do good, but be a doer of good voluntarily and you will be beloved as much as the sun.”
― Epictetus, Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses

“Formal education and current position can define your worthiness. What makes you extraordinary is defined by your attitude towards others.”
― Ashish Patel

“While you are so busy trying to make yourself humble,
many are persistently and quietly promoting themselves.”
― Toba Beta, Master of Stupidity

“I learnt to identify the false love from true ones by their fruits, humbleness and how free they were from wordily desires.”
― Santosh Avvannavar, The Departing Point: Two people departed...in search of love...leaving love in between

“Some of you need a lesson in humility. While your arrogance may give you a sense of power, it may serve you better to put it aside. Those are the times you will be the light of the world.”
― J 'son M. Lee

“Killing a cruelty is not a cruelty.”
― Amit Kalantri

“Mere talents does not give glory to God but a humble heart.”
― Mac Canoza

“Prophet Mohammed travelled to Taif where he was subjected to brutalities. He did not curse them nor did he take revenge for the humiliation. If he forgave & prayed for the people of Taif, how can anyone justify hurting people in his name?”
― Ibn Jeem

“Shrooms are full of shit. That’s the whole story. Grown in shit, it’s their essence: they try to humble you in these ways that bring you down to their level.”
― A.D. Aliwat, In Limbo

“Humble individuals will not willfully distort information in order to defend, repair, or verify their own image. For humble people, there should be no press toward self-importance and no burning need to see—or present—themselves as being better than they actually are. They should also not be particularly interested in dominating others in order to receive entitlements or to elevate their own status. On the other hand, humility should not lead people to take harsh or condemning approaches toward themselves, magnifying weaknesses and severely punishing failures while overlooking strengths and successes.”
― Christopher Peterson, Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification

“A truly big man is always try to be a small man.”
― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

“My mother used to tell me that a woman's beauty lied not in the size of her dowry, but in the modest depths of her maiden heart.”
― Jade Laredo, Angel of Darkness: A Romantic Regency Novella

“A boss who isn't humble lose his people ultimately, a stranger who isn't humble lose the people instantly.”
― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

“Either I will be humble in life, or I will be humbled by life.”
― Giannis Delimitsos