The more things a man is ashamed of, the more respectable he is.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Any party which takes credit for the rain must not be surprised if its opponents blame it for the drought.
—Dwight Morrow (1873–1931) American Businessman, Diplomat
There is no vice, of which a man can be guilty, no meanness, no shabbiness, no unkindness, which excited so much indignation among his contemporaries, friends and neighbors, as his success. This is the one unpardonable crime, which reason cannot defend, nor [can] humility mitigate.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
The churches must learn humility as well as teach it.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
If I was not a remarkably modest man, I should probably brag a little, and say that I had done what no American ever before accomplished by visiting the queen at her palace twice within eight days.
—P. T. Barnum (1810–91) American Businessperson, Entertainer
A vain man finds it wise to speak good or ill of himself; a modest man does not talk of himself.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Because impudence is a vice, it does not follow that modesty is a virtue; it is built upon shame, a passion in our nature, and may be either good or bad according to the actions performed from that motive.
—Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733) Anglo-Dutch Philosopher, Satirist
True humility is contentment.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change; where we are right, make us easy to live with.
—Peter Marshall
No modest man ever did or ever will make a fortune.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
We would rather speak ill of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Act as though you cannot fail but keep a humble spirit.
—Unknown
Those who honor themselves will be humbled, but people who are humble themselves will be honored.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
It is useless to gather virtues without humility, for the spirit of the Lord delighteth to dwell in the hearts of the humble.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
No truly great person ever thought themselves so.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Humbleness is always grace; always dignity.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Modesty is the chastity of merit, the virginity of noble souls.
—Emile de Girardin (1806–81) French Journalist, Publisher
There is something in humility which strangely exalts the heart.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Be it ever so humble, there’s no opinion like one’s own.
—Unknown
Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
A vulgar mind is proud in prosperity and humble in adversity. A noble mind is humble in prosperity and proud in adversity.
—Friedrich Ruckert (1788–1866) German Poet, Translator
Mental toughness is many things. It is humility because it behooves all of us to remember that simplicity is the sign of greatness and meekness is the sign of true strength. Mental toughness is spartanism with qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication. It is fearlessness, and it is love.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
Usually the modest person passes for someone reserved, the silent for a sullen person
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Sense shines with a double lustre when it is set in humility. An able and yet humble man is a jewel worth a kingdom.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Genius is by definition a style of consciousness characterized by the ability to access high energy attractor patterns. It is not a personality characteristic. It is not something that a person has, nor even something that someone is. Those in whom we recognize genius commonly disclaim it. A universal characteristic of genius is humility. The genius has always attributed his insights to some higher influence.
—David R. Hawkins (1913–2002) American Philosopher, Academic
Even if you be otherwise perfect, you fail without humility.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
I have sounded the very base-string of humility.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Modest humility is beauty’s crown.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
The sufficiency of my merit is to know that my merit is not sufficient.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
One of the first businesses of a sensible man is to know when he is beaten, and to leave off fighting at once.
—Samuel Butler
The man who is ostentatious of his modesty is twin to the statue that wears a fig-leaf.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Humble men and women do not have a low opinion of themselves; they have no opinion of themselves, because they so rarely think about themselves. The heart of humility lies in undivided attention to God and a de-selfing of our plans, projects, ambitions and soul. Humility is an indifference to our own well-being and a carefree disregard of the image we present. No longer concerned with appearing to be good, we can move freely in the mystery of who we really are, aware of the sovereignty of God and of our absolute insufficiency and yet moved by a spirit of radical self-acceptance without self-concern.
—Brennan Manning (1934–2013) American Theologian, Author
He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
It is always the secure who are humble.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
I don’t like to write like God. It is only because you never do it, though, that the critics think you can’t do it.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
There are two kinds of egotists: Those who admit it, and the rest of us.
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-born American Educator, Author
Humanity cannot be degraded by humiliation. It is its very character to submit to such things. There is a con sanguinity between benevolence and humility. They are virtues of the same stock.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Humility is to make a right estimate of one’s self. It is no humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought, though it might rather puzzle him to do that.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
If only I had a little humility, I’d be perfect.
—Ted Turner (b.1938) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
The doctrines of grace humble man without degrading, and exalt without inflating him.
—Charles Hodge (1797–1878) American Biblical Scholar
Nothing is more humiliating than to see idiots succeed in enterprises we have failed in.
—Gustave Flaubert (1821–80) French Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
Humility is often a false front we employ to gain power over others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Humility and resignation are our prime virtues.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
True dignity abides with him only, who, in the silent hour of inward thought, can still suspect, and still revere himself, in lowliness of heart.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
Humility is often only a feigned submission, of which we make use to render others submissive. It is an artifice of pride which abases in order to exalt itself.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Modesty forbids what the law does not.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian