Quotes About Humility

For holy conversation to occur, we must at least be in touch with the reality that we could be wrong. Holy conversation needs an appropriate modesty that is the opposite of arrogance.

Worn out by suffering, we lie on our great backs, tossing grass up to heaven—as a distraction, not a prayer. That's not humility you see on our long final journeys it's procrastination. It hurts my heavy body to lie down. — Dan Chiasson, from "The Elephant," Natural History . (Knopf; First edition. edition October 11, 2005)

The intellectually insecure drop the word "pretentious" to shut down a conversation they don't understand, when simply saying "I don't know" or asking "Can you explain this?" would be more gracious ways to admit to being in the dark. Cutting someone down for pretension reveals, ironically, embarrassed arrogance rather than humility.

I believe that self-worth is where you find it and that the most beautiful form of self-worth occurs when you maximize the amount of love you share with the world, no matter how mundane or humble the circumstances may be. I believe that just because you have a college degree doesn't mean you need a job with a BlackBerry. And most important, I believe in lemonade.

When you realize you've made a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm.

When organized religion organizes around the things Jesus would be pleased with, amazing things can happen.

I deserve respect for the things I did not do.

People can disagree politically and philosophically on all the issues that confront our nation, but if more of our elected officials had served in causes other than their own advancement, I believe they would approach their jobs with less certainty in their own assumptions and more sympathy for the needs of others.

What sticks with me more than even that act of kindness was how my mother talked to me about it... So I asked my mother why we gave those families gifts at Christmas when we ourselves didn't have much. I remember then answering for myself: "It was because we felt sorry for them, right?" "We do not feel sorry for them," my mother said sternly, "We understand how they feel.

As I define it, nationalism is a monologue in which you place your country in a position of moral and cultural supremacy over others. Patriotism, while deeply personal, is a dialogue with your fellow citizens, and a larger world, about not only what you love about your country but also how it can be improved. Unchecked nationalism leads to conflict and war. Unbridled patriotism can lead to the betterment of society. Patriotism is rooted in humility. Nationalism is rooted in arrogance.

Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.

Do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.

I am Nobody, nobody is perfect, therefore I am perfect.

Sometimes to be the bigger person, you gotta be the little guy.

Spotlight Your Fallibility Early On—Especially If You're a Leader: In any interaction, we have a natural tendency to try to hide our weaknesses and appear competent. If you want to create safety, this is exactly the wrong move. Instead, you should open up, show you make mistakes, and invite input with simple phrases like "This is just my two cents." "Of course, I could be wrong here." "What am I missing?" "What do you think?

Spotlight Your Fallibility Early On—Especially If You're a Leader:

This is what I would call a muscular humility—a mindset of seeking simple ways to serve the group.

Cooper uses the phrase "backbone of humility" to describe the tone of a good AAR. It's a useful phrase because it captures the paradoxical nature of the task: a relentless willingness to see the truth and take ownership.

As soon as someone tells me: 'You're rather sexy ' I wish I could disappear. If somebody says: 'You were voted the world's sexiest man ' I have no idea what that means. How do I respond? 'Thank you' is the best you can do. George Clooney is the world's sexiest man, anyway.

Giving to others is most precious when it is done quietly and selflessly.

Altruistic love: giving to others is most precious when it is done quietly and selflessly

He regrets not having "the experience of hardship and sacrifice," of depending on others for survival and of their relying on him. "If you're serving someone, it means you're not serving yourself

He is worthy. I am needy." I have concluded that the more we seek the Lord, with a passion for His worthiness, the more we are gripped with our neediness. Adoration cultivates desperation.

I thank God for not making me a computer scientist.