Monday, June 30, 2008

Humility quotations

Humility is the only true wisdom by which we prepare our minds for all the possible changes of life. George Arliss

We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility. Rabindranath Tagore

Humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues. Confucius

Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues, hence in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance. Saint Augustine

Humility is the root, mother, nurse, foundation, and bond of all virtue. Saint John Chrysostom

Even if you be otherwise perfect, you fail without humility. The Talmud

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The Bible

Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real. Thomas Merton

In peace there's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility. William Shakespeare

It is always the secure who are humble. Gilbert Keith Chesterton

True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes. Edward Frederick Halifax

Modest humility is beauty's crown. Johann Christoff Friedrich von Schiller

Humility is eldest-born of Virtue, and claims the birthright at the throne of heaven. Arthur Murphy

Humility mainly becometh the converse of man with his Maker. Martin Farquhar Tupper


Humility, like darkness, reveals the heavenly lights. Henry David Thoreau

2 comments:

footiam said...

Great quotations you have here!

Author said...

Yes, aren't they? I was somewhat shocked myself to find that all the world's great minds and traditions agree so emphatically that humility is the foundation of all virtue. It is also shocking to discover this only at the age of 51...

Discover The Tale of Genji, the 11th Century classic of Japan (click image)

Discover The Tale of Genji, the 11th Century classic of Japan (click image)
Kiyomizudera Temple has a large veranda looking out over Kyoto and beyond