Quotes About Humility

The world says, "Push to the front of the line!" Jesus says, "Go to the back of the line." The world says, "Brand yourself and blast your accomplishments all over social media!" Jesus says, "If you want to be great you have to first learn to serve.

I like to think I'm not stupid often, tonight proves that when I am, I do it in a big way.

The tricky part for me is remembering to give God all the glory and keep none for myself. That's why "we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."8 Boaz took no credit for his kindness, nor did Ruth. Even Naomi, who at first blessed the landowner, praised God when she learned the man's name. We can follow her fine example, giving God the credit for "every good and perfect gift."9

They sought to pummel His pride, not understanding He'd laid it aside at birth, when He gave up heaven and came to earth.

For sure, I would much rather look as if I have it all together and never make mistakes. But as the Bible cautions us, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."12

His pride was trampled, and his spirit was humbled, yet he knew the way out: praising God. That's our way out, too. Out of sin, out of misery, out of fear. When we start praising God for all the great things he has done, there's little time left for whining or worrying.

It's all very well going round with two fingers stuck up at the world, but what happens when the world turns round and sticks them back up at you? The world's a lot bigger than I am.

Forgive me....I called you an idiot. I spoke too hastily. You are not. Had I given it more thought, I would have called you a scoundrel.

I can't make sense out of that girl, he said to the bard, Can you? Never mind, Fflewddur said, We aren't really expected to.

I can't stand people who say 'I told you so.' That's worse than somebody coming up and eating your dinner before you have a chance to sit down.

Ah, Princess, Dallben said, with a furrowed smile, a crown is more discomfort than adornment. If you have learned that, you have already learned much.

But it's very thoughtful of you to say that. It shows a kind heart, and I think that's so much more important than being clever.

There was never any comfortable way to mention or discuss one's successes without breaking the rule against bragging, even if one didn't mean to.

God save me from another such victory.

Don't promote your troubles beyond your rank.

Beloved, god-touched, great-souled… a saint, even?  The true sort, who moved through the world as silently as fishes, unnoticed by carnal eyes that focused only on outward domination and display.  Never on a small woman in a small town, being kind.  Soul by soul. And

Death is not a performance to rate ourselves upon, or berate ourselves upon either.

I wanted—I wanted to serve something. To"—he raised his eyes to his father's, driven to a painful honesty—"to make my life an offering fit to lay at his feet." He shrugged. "Screwed up again." "Clay, boy." Count Vorkosigan's voice was hoarse but clear. "Only clay. Not fit to receive so golden a sacrifice." His voice cracked.

Did you imagine you controlled it? Omniscient and omnipotent? Nobody appointed you God, Vorkosigan." Ghostly faint, one corner of his mouth turned up. "I'm sure it was an oversight." He leaned back and closed his eyes.

He consoled himself with the reflection that it was seldom he found himself in company who made him feel this stupid. It was probably good for his soul.

What do you think, my lord Castillar?" Cazaril swallowed. "I think…I think if you lent me a razor now, for me to cut my throat with, it would save ever so many steps. Please Your Grace." The Provincara snorted. "Good, Cazaril, good. I do so like a man who doesn't underestimate his situation.

That's what I mean," said Ilka. "We are, all of us, ridiculous. All we can hear is somebody saying we are less than perfect. And it's not as if we hadn't already got that figured out for ourselves." "I never mind being told when I'm wrong." Ilka said, "Will you forgive me if I don't believe you?

If I could not be anchored and profound, I would try, at least, to be kind.

the general trouble with ignorance is always that ignorant people have no idea that that's what they are. You can be ignorant and stupid and go through your whole life without ever encountering any evidence against the hypothesis that you're a genius. If you're stupid you can always blame miscalculation on bad luck.