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The Best Quotations

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best quotations about

Humility


and Humbleness

Humility

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Quotations

TalleyrandIf you wish to be popular in society consent to be taught many things you already know.

—  Talleyrand, 1754-1838, French statesman & diplomat

26 likes
Lord ChesterfieldNever seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked.

—  Lord Chesterfield, 1694-1773, English statesman & writer

22 likes
John WoodenTalent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

—  John Wooden, 1910-2010, American basketball coach

10 likes
Oscar LevantWhat the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.

—  Oscar Levant, 1906-1972, American pianist

8 likes
Charles Caleb ColtonThe greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility.

—  Charles Caleb Colton, 1780-1832, English cleric & writer

8 likes
Blaise PascalDo you wish people to think well of you? Don't speak well of yourself.

—  Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662, French thinker

6 likes
Mignon McLaughlinThe proud man can learn humility, but he will be proud of it.

—  Mignon McLaughlin, 1913-1983, American magazine editor

6 likes
Lord ChesterfieldModesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

—  Lord Chesterfield, 1694-1773, English statesman & writer

6 likes
Will DurantIf you wish to be loved, be modest; if you wish to be admired, be proud; if you wish both, combine external modesty with internal pride.

—  Will Durant, 1885-1981, American historian & philosopher

6 likes
Arthur ClarkeAstronomy, as nothing else can do, teaches men humility.

—  Arthur Clarke, 1917-2008, British Sci-Fi writer

6 likes
William BlakeI myself do nothing. The Holy Spirit accomplishes all through me.

—  William Blake, 1757-1827, English poet & painter

6 likes
Golda MeirDon't be so humble, you are not that great.

—  Golda Meir, 1898-1978, Israeli Prime Minister

5 likes
Winston ChurchillMr. Attlee is a very modest man. Indeed he has a lot to be modest about.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

     (on the new Prime Minister Clement Attlee,1946)

5 likes
Mark TwainNever be haughty to the humble, never be humble to the haughty.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

5 likes
Saint AugustineIt was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.

—  Saint Augustine, 354-430, Christian theologian & philosopher

5 likes
Ludwig WittgensteinNever stay up on the barren heights of cleverness, but come down into the green valleys of silliness.

—  Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Austrian philosopher

4 likes
Jim RohnHumility is a virtue; timidity is a disease.

—  Jim Rohn, 1930-2009, American self-help speker

4 likes
Oscar LevantI am no more humble than my talents require.

—  Oscar Levant, 1906-1972, American pianist

4 likes
Lao-TzuBe the chief but never the lord.

—  Lao-Tzu, 6th cent. BC, Chinese philosopher

3 likes
Benjamin FranklinTo be humble to superiors is a duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.

—  Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American politician & writer

3 likes
ConfuciusThe superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

—  Confucius, 551-479 BC, Chinese teacher & philosopher

3 likes
William WordsworthThe flower that smells the sweetest is shy and lowly.

—  William Wordsworth, 1770-1850, English poet

3 likes
Sigmund FreudWhoever loves becomes humble. Those who love have, so to speak, pawned a part of their narcissism.

—  Sigmund Freud, 1856-1939, Austrian psychologist, founder of psychoanalysis

3 likes
Laurence J PeterHumility is the embarrassment you feel when you tell people how wonderful you are.

—  Laurence J Peter, 1919-1990, Canadian writer & educator

2 likes
G. K. ChestertonHumility is the mother of giants. One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.

—  G. K. Chesterton, 1874-1936, English writer & critic

2 likes
Frank TygerModesty is the triumph of mind over flattery.

—  Frank Tyger, 1929-2011, American cartoonist

2 likes
Duc de LevisYou think you are modest. I did not know you so proud.

—  Duc de Levis, 1764-1830, French politician & author of maxims

2 likes
Mikis TheodorakisI am not a hero. Heroes die young. I am just a citizen who does his duty.

—  Mikis Theodorakis, 1925-2021, Greek composer & politician

2 likes
Baltasar GracianBe open to suggestion, no one is so perfect that would not need advice from time to time.

—  Baltasar Gracian, 1601-1658, Spanish writer

Nikos KazantzakisMan cannot do anything brave in the world unless he submits his life to a Master superior to him.

—  Nikos Kazantzakis, 1883-1957, Greek writer

Joseph JoubertWhat is the use of modesty? It is used to appear more beautiful when we are beautiful and to appear less ugly when we are.

—  Joseph Joubert, 1754-1824, French author of maxims

Muhammad AliIt's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am.

—  Muhammad Ali, 1942-2016, American boxer

Orson WellesNobody who takes on anything big and tough can afford to be modest.

—  Orson Welles, 1915-1985, American actor & film director

Jean d’ AlembertModesty is sometimes hypocritical, and simplicity never is.

—  Jean d’ Alembert, 1717-1783, French physicist & philosopher

Oliver W. Holmes Sr.The best servant does his work unseen.

—  Oliver W. Holmes Sr., 1809-1894, American writer

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.Young man, the secret of my success is that at an early age I discovered that I was not God.

—  Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., 1841-1935, 

Gustave FlaubertTravel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.

—  Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880, French writer

Remy de GourmontModesty is the delicate form of hypocrisy.

—  Remy de Gourmont, 1858-1915, French poet

Bernard BaruchBecome more humble as the market goes your way.

—  Bernard Baruch, 1870-1965, American businessman & statesman

William Hazlitt Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a real confession of the deficiency it indicates. He who undervalues himself is justly undervalued by others.

—  William Hazlitt , 1778-1830, English essayist & critic

Henry de MontherlantIf you have influence, at least pretend to ignore it.

—  Henry de Montherlant, 1895-1972, French writer

John Kenneth GalbraithModesty is a vastly overrated virtue.

—  John Kenneth Galbraith, 1908-2006, American-Canadian economist

Henri JeansonPrudence is the modesty of cowards.

—  Henri Jeanson, 1900-1970, French critic & columnist

James BarrieLife is a long lesson in humility.

—  James Barrie, 1860-1937, English writer

José SaramagoIn a king, modesty would be a sign of weakness.

—  José Saramago, 1922-2010, Portuguese writer [Nobel 1998]

Arthur Conan DoyleI cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues. To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one’s self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one’s own powers.

—  Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859-1930, British writer

Nicolas ChamfortFalse modesty is the most decent of all lies.

—  Nicolas Chamfort, 1740-1794, French writer

Bill VaughanBlushes are the rainbow of modesty.

—  Bill Vaughan, 1915-1977, American journalist

Bible Quotes

Gospel of LukeAll those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

—  Gospel of Luke ‐ 14:11

9 likes
Gospel of MatthewBlessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

—  Gospel of Matthew ‐ 5:5

8 likes

Latin Quotes

Not to us Lord, not to us, but to Your Name give the glory.

Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

—  motto of the Knights Templar deriving from Psalm 113:9

22 likes

Funny Quotes

Phyllis DillerYou know what keeps me humble? Mirrors!

—  Phyllis Diller, 1917-2012, American comedian

4 likes

Ancient Greek

EuripidesAs mortals we should behave as mortals.

Όντας δε θνητούς θνητά και φρονείν χρεών.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Alcestis

73 likes
EpicurusLive in obscurity.

Λάθε βιώσας.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

14 likes
Bias of PrieneFor whatever good you do, praise the gods not yourself.

Ό,τι αν αγαθόν πράσσης, θεούς. μη σεαυτόν αιτιώ.

—  Bias of Priene, 625-540 BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

5 likes



Similar categories & topics of Quotations






Similar Topics

Self-deprecation

Kindness

Shame

Self-knowledge

Resilience

Frugality

Abstinence

Moderation

Simplicity

Timidity

Contrary Topics

Vanity

Ego

Obstinacy

Boasting

Complacency

Luxury

Audacity

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