Quotes About Humility

Every man who praises himself brushes the luster from his best efforts.

During the Samuel Johnson days they had big men enjoying small talk; today we have small men enjoying big talk.

Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.

The condition of being forgiven is self-abandonment. The proud man prefers self-reproach, however painful --because the reproached self isn't abandoned; it remains intact.

Self-laudation abounds among the unpolished, but nothing can stamp a man more sharply as ill-bred.

The Spirit never makes men the instruments of converting others until they feel that they cannot do it themselves; that their skill in argument, in persuasion, in management, avails nothing.

To make us feel small in the right way is a function of art; men can only make us feel small in the wrong way.

No matter how important a man at sea may consider himself, unless he is fundamentally worthy the sea will some day find him out.

To test a modest man's modesty do not investigate if he ignores applause, find out if he abides criticism.

It is a presumption on the part of man when he demands in words an explanation of God.

A man can become so accustomed to the thought of his own faults that he will begin to cherish them as charming little 'personal characteristics.'

Provided a man is not mad, he can be cured of every folly but vanity.

Things that I felt absolutely sure of but a few years ago, I do not believe now. This thought makes me see more clearly how foolish it would be to expect all men to agree with me.

Is God a man with two arms and legs like me? Does He have eyes, a head? Does He have bowels? Well I do, and that makes me more wonderful than He is!

Confess your sins to the Lord and you will be forgiven; confess them to man and you will be laughed at.

Do you see what little is required of a man to live a well-tempered and god-fearing life? Obey these precepts, and the gods will ask nothing more.

I'm not perfect, I'm a flawed man, but I'm willing to try to get better, I'm willing to listen.

A man who has nothing in particular to recommend him discusses all sorts of subjects at random as if he knew everything.

How ironical that it is by means of speech that man can degrade himself below the level of dumb creation -- for a chatterbox is truly of a lower category than a dumb creature.

A man that is well ordered in his soul needeth little the unkind demeanor of worldly people nor yet their proud behavior.

He that falls into sin is a man; that grieves at it, is a saint; that boasteth of it, is a devil.

For men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.

Men, God is not opposed to greatness. God is opposed to pride. Big difference. Unfortunately, it is a difference not widely understood or embraced.

Both men and women are fallible. The difference is, women know it.