Quotes About Humility

If my little acts of virtue can be mistaken for imperfections, imperfections can just as easily be mistaken for virtue.

Our Lord has deigned to make me understand that by simple obedience I shall please Him best.

Our Lord made me understand that the only true glory is that which lasts for ever; and that to attain it there is no necessity to do brilliant deeds, but rather to hide from the eyes of others, and even from oneself, so that "the left hand knows not what the right hand does."[1]

Our Father, St. John of the Cross, says with great truth: "All good things have come unto me, since I no longer sought them for myself.

Al comienzo de mi vida espiritual, hacia los trece o catorce años, me preguntaba qué más podría adquirir en lo sucesivo, pues creía que me era imposible comprender mejor la perfección. Pronto reconocí que cuanto más se adelanta en este camino, tanto más lejos del término se cree uno, y por eso ahora me resigno a verme siempre imperfecta y en eso encuentro mi alegría.

I feel that if You found a soul weaker and littler than mine, which is impossible, You [35]would be pleased to grant it still greater favors, provided it abandoned itself with total confidence to Your Infinite Mercy.

IN order that Love may be fully satisfied it must needs stoop to very nothingness and transform that nothing into fire.

No obstante, sigo teniendo la misma confianza audaz de llegar a ser una gran santa, pues no me apoyo en mis méritos -que no tengo ninguno-, sino en Aquel que es la Virtud y la Santidad mismas. Sólo él, contentándose con mis débiles esfuerzos, me elevará hasta él y, cubriéndome con sus méritos infinitos, me hará santa.

It would not disturb me if (supposing the impossible) God himself did not see my good actions. I love him so much, that I would like to give him joy without his knowing who gave it. When he does know, he is, as it were, obliged to make a return.

Lo principal que descubre Santa Teresita es que a Dios no se le conquista. A Dios, se le acepta. Él se da. «Él se quiere reservar para sí la dulzura de dar» (C 121). A nosotros nos toca respetarle, aceptarle desde nuestra pequeñez y debilidad. Nuestra misión es la de ser sencillos e insignificantes como «una gotita de rocío». Para llenar esta misión es «necesario permanecer sencilla».

you must be always as a drop of dew hidden in the heart of this beautiful Lily of the valley ... One must be so little to draw near to Jesus, and few are the souls that aspire to be little and unknown. ... Our Beloved needs neither our brilliant deeds nor our beautiful thoughts. ... The Lily of the valley asks but a single dewdrop, which for one night shall rest in its cup, hidden from all human eyes.

La verdadera sabiduría consiste en «querer ser ignorado y tenido por nada» –en «gozar en el desprecio de sí»–. Yo quería que, como el de Jesús, «mi rostro estuviera verdaderamente escondido y que nadie en la tierra pudiera reconocerme». Tenía sed de sufrir y de ser olvidada.

Thérèse de Lisieux

Offer to God the sacrifice of never gathering any fruit. If He will that throughout your whole life you should feel a repugnance to suffering and humiliation—if He permit that all the flowers of your desires and of your good will should fall to the ground without any fruit appearing, do not worry. At the hour of death, in the twinkling of an eye, He will cause fair fruits to ripen on the tree of your soul.

A warrior accepts the challenges of life in true humility. No matter what his destiny may be, it can never be a cause for discontent, but a living challenge which it is his privilege to surmount.

Self-confidence, as it is generally understood, implies arrogant presumption; humility implies being impeccable in one's actions and feelings.

Humility is a passive acceptance of the process of life; love is an active participation in that process.

Ministers of reconciliation must be patient and longsuffering. They must be characterized by meekness such that they do not think more highly of themselves than they ought (Matt. 5:5). They must hold up under the weight of disappointments, frustrations, loss, attack, slander, and offense (Matt. 18:21–22; Rom. 15:1). By carrying each others' burdens we fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).

Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others, and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

If we're focusing on others in an attempt to justify ourselves before God or to "exalt ourselves" as "giants of the faith," we will not only not grow as we ought, but we will also delude ourselves into thinking we're better than we are. And we may be sure that God will humble us. So it is better to humble ourselves and trust in the grace of God than to be opposed by God because of pride (James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).

Not only do healthy church members accept the Lord's chastisement, but they humbly accept correction from others. They recognize that often the Lord's correction comes through other members in the church, saints who care enough not only to encourage in good times but to confront and correct when necessary. Healthy church members agree that "better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Prov. 27:5–6).

Today you are encouraged to accept your failures. When you are willing to fail miserably, you are able to achieve greatly. Admitting your mistakes and weaknesses doesn't diminish your strength, it shows your courage and maturity. Sometimes you just need to be quiet, swallow your pride and accept you were wrong. It's not about giving up, it's about growing up.

The faults of others are easily perceived, but those of oneself are difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour?s faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides as a cheat hides the false dice from the gamester.

The fool who knows his foolishness is wise so far, at least; but a fool who thinks himself wise, he is called a fool indeed.