Concept
Humility
Overview
Humility is the quality of being humble and kind. While older definitions, such as the 1998 Oxford Dictionary entry, described humility as having a "low opinion of oneself" or "not being proudful", more recent psychological and philosophical definitions emphasize having an "accurate opinion of oneself". This modern view includes expressing modesty appropriately, possessing clear goal orientation, openness, broad-mindedness, and a non-imposing mentality.
Humility also refers to a proper sense of self-regard. It may be misinterpreted as the capacity to endure humiliation through self-denigration, with this misconception arising from the confusion of humility with traits like submissiveness and meekness.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Humility is discussed.
What I have said of pride is equally true of humility. The sensation of humility is uneasy, as that of pride is agreeable; for which reason the separate sensation arising from the causes must be reversed, while the relation to self continues the same. Though pride and humility are directly contrary in their effects and in their sensations, they have notwithstanding the same object; so that 'tis requisite only to…
David Hume, Philosophical Works, v. 2
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
A non-co-operationist strives to compel attention and to set an example not by his violence but by his unobtrusive humility. He allows his solid action to speak for his creed. His strength lies in his reliance upon the correctness of his position.
Mahatma Gandhi, Freedom's Battle Being a Comprehensive Collection of Writings and Speeches on the Present Situation
a chapter is titled for it; names the idea; opens on it
I must, however, make one exception, viz, when the very cause of the pride and humility is placed in some other person. For in that case the imagination is necessitated to consider the person, nor can it possibly confine its view to ourselves.
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature
names the idea; states what it is
“We live, we die, we sacrifice ourselves for the good” (—“the Truth,” “the Light,” “the Kingdom of God”): as a matter of fact they do only what they cannot help doing. Like sneaks they have to play a humble part; sit away in corners, and remain obscurely in the shade, and they make all this appear a duty; their humble life now appears as a duty, and their humility is one proof the more of their piety!... Oh, what a…
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, The Twilight of the Idols
states what it is; author linked in the graph; names the idea
This is either the self-love that consists in an excessive fondness for oneself (philautia), or satisfaction with oneself (arrogantia). The former is called particularly selfishness; the latter self-conceit. Pure practical reason only checks selfishness, looking on it as natural and active in us even prior to the moral law, so far as to limit it to the condition of agreement with this law, and then it is called…
Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Practical Reason
states what it is; author linked in the graph
Philosophers who discussed Humility
Related ideas
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Jesus
- Francis of Assisi
- Immanuel Kant
- Jainism
- Übermensch
- Ancient Greek philosophy
- Honour
- Moksha
- Latin
- Sōtō
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Maimonides
- Moses
- Śūnyatā
- Anattā
- Augustine of Hippo
- Mere Christianity
- Brahman
- New Testament
- Thomas Aquinas
- Oxford English Dictionary
- Guru Nanak
- Paul the Apostle
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Knowledge.