No modest man ever did or ever will make a fortune.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
I can’t tell you if genius is hereditary, because heaven has granted me no offspring.
—James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) American Painter, Etcher
It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility.
—Rachel Carson (1907–64) American Naturalist, Science Writer
I am no more humble than my talents require.
—Oscar Levant (1906–72) American Musician, Composer, Author, Comedian, Actor
Modesty seldom resides in a breast that is not enriched with nobler virtues.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Modesty is a quality in a lover more praised by the women than liked.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment. As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility, and commitment.
—Ross Perot (1930–2019) American Businessman
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
True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes.
—George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax (1633–95) British Statesman, Writer, Politician
With people with only modest ability, modesty is mere honesty; but with those who possess great talent, it is hypocrisy.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty.
—Louisa May Alcott (1832–88) American Novelist
At very best, a person wrapped up in himself makes a small package.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
Life is a long lesson in humility.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
Rather be thou the tail among lions than the head among foxes.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
Too humble is half proud.
—Yiddish Proverb
A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of; it heightens all the virtues which it accompanies; like the shades in paintings, it raises and rounds every figure and makes the colors more beautiful, though not so glaring as they would be without.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The graveyards are full of indispensable men.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
Nobody stands taller than those willing to stand corrected.
—William Safire (1929–2009) American Columnist, Journalist, Author, Speechwriter
What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Almost any difficulty will move in the face of honesty. When I am honest I never feel stupid. And when I am honest I am automatically humble.
—Hugh Prather (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
Be wise; soar not too high to fall, but stoop to rise.
—Philip Massinger (1583–1640) English Playwright
Knowledge, a rude unprofitable mass, the mere materials with which wisdom builds, till smoothed and squared and fitted to its place, does but encumber whom it seems to enrich. Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Without humility there can be no humanity.
—John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (1875–1940) Scottish Novelist, Politician, Diplomat
Humility makes great men twice honourable.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low; but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment.
—Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) French Catholic Religious Leader
Humility mainly becometh the converse of man with his Maker.
—Martin Farquhar Tupper (1810–89) English Poet, Writer
Be plain in dress, and sober in your diet; In short, my dear, kiss me and be quiet.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
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
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
None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.
—Benjamin Whichcote (1609–83) British Anglican Priest, Theologian, Philosopher
Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.
—Oliver Herford (1863–1935) American Writer, Artist, Illustrator
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
The proud man counts his newspaper clippings, the humble man his blessings.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Fidelity to conscience is inconsistent with retiring modesty. If it be so, let the modesty succumb. It can be only a false modesty which can be thus endangered.
—Harriet Martineau (1802–76) English Sociologist, Economist, Essayist, Philosopher
Don’t be so humble, you’re not that great.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
Love’s humility is love’s true pride.
—Bayard Taylor (1825–78) American Poet, Literary Critic, Translator, Translator
There are a billion people in China. It’s not easy to be an individual in a crowd of more than a billion people. Think of it. More than a BILLION people. That means even if you’re a one-in-a-million type of guy, there are still a thousand guys exactly like you.
—A. Whitney Brown (b.1952) American Comedian, TV Personality
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
A modest man is usually admired, if people ever hear of him.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
You shouldn’t gloat about anything you’ve done; you ought to keep going and find something better to do.
—David Packard (1912–96) American Businessperson, Philanthropist, Inventor
I saw that we’re all doing the best we can. This is how a lifetime of humility begins.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Those who are believed to be most abject and humble are usually most ambitious and envious.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
Humility is the root, mother, nurse, foundation, and bond of all virtue.
—John Chrysostom (c.347–407 CE) Archbishop of Constantinople
There is many a wounded heart without a contrite spirit. — The ice may be broken into a thousand pieces but it is ice still. — But expose it to the beams of the sun of righteousness, and then it will melt.
—Conyers Middleton (1683–1750) English Clergyman, Theologian
In all that surrounds him the egotist sees only the frame of his own portrait.
—Jean Antoine Petit-Senn (1792–1870) Swiss Poet
If there is anybody in this land who thoroughly believes that the meek shall inherit the earth they have not often let their presence be known.
—W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963) American Sociologist, Social Reformer
There is but one road to lead us to God — humility; all other ways would only lead astray, even were they fenced in with all virtues.
—Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic
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
Heaven’s gates are not so highly arched as princes’ palaces; they that enter there must go upon their knees.
—John Webster (1580–1634) English Dramatist, Poet
Whosoever runs after greatness, greatness runs away from him ; he who runs from greatness, greatness follows him.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Humility is to have a right estimate of one’s self — not to think less of himself than he ought. — The higher a man is in grace, the lower will he be in his own esteem.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
The grace that makes every grace amiable is humility.
—Samuel Richardson (1689–1761) English Novelist, Printer, Publisher
He who humiliates himself will be lifted up; he who raises himself up will be humiliated.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
It is always the secure who are humble.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet