Common Book
← Themes

Humility

Knowing your size. Being humbled by people, failures, or things larger than you.

“When have you been humbled — by another person, by a failure, by something larger? What did it leave you with?”

Read the chapter: The drop and the dust →Reflect on humilitySpeak with the book

Facets

The angles humility keeps showing up at, across thousands of years.

Knowing your smallness before what is vast

Humans are brief, fragile, and limited — life is short, knowledge is bounded, and something far greater exceeds us.

25 passages · 4 traditions

+ 19 more in this facet →

Not claiming what isn't yours

True humility means acting, giving, or achieving without pride of ownership — the work belongs to something larger than the self.

17 passages · 6 traditions

  • If you have learned much Torah, do not claim credit for yourself, because for such a purpose were you created.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 2.2:8, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • When wealth and honours lead to arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself. When the work is done, and one's name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 9-16.9, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • When its work is accomplished, it does not claim the name of having done it. It clothes all things as with a garment, and makes no assumption of being their lord. Hence the sage is able (in the same way) to accomplish his great achievements. It is through his not making himself great that he can accomplish them.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 33-40.34, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • give to Him of that which is His, for you and that which is yours is His; and thus it says with regards to David: 'for everything comes from You, and from Your own hand have we given you.'

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 3.3:7, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • (The Tao) produces (all things) and nourishes them; it produces them and does not claim them as its own; it does all, and yet does not boast of it; it presides over all, and yet does not control them.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 9-16.10, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • I ask of you no reward for this, for my reward is of the Lord of the Worlds alone.

    — Qur’an · Qur'an, 26.26:109, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗

+ 11 more in this facet →
  • Therefore the sage puts his own person last, and yet it is found in the foremost place; he treats his person as if it were foreign to him, and yet that person is preserved. Is it not because he has no personal and private ends, that therefore such ends are realised?

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 1-8.7, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • As to the orphan therefore wrong him not; And as to him that asketh of thee, chide him not away; And as for the favours of thy Lord tell them abroad.

    — Qur’an · Qur'an, 93-104.93:9-11, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗

  • And when he saw it set before him, he said, 'This is of the favour of my Lord, to try me whether I will be thankful or unthankful. And he who is thankful is thankful to his own behoof; and as for him who is unthankful—truly my Lord is self-sufficient, bounteous!'

    — Qur’an · Qur'an, 27.27:40, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗

  • Such there be, who when they have done a good turn to any, are ready to set them on the score for it, and to require retaliation... Others again there be, who when they have done any such thing, do not so much as know what they have done; but are like unto the vine, which beareth her grapes, and when once she hath borne her own proper fruit, is contented and seeks for no further recompense. As a horse after a race, and a hunting dog when he hath hunted, and a bee when she hath made her honey, look not for applause and commendation; so neither doth that man that rightly doth understand his own nature when he hath done a good turn: but from one doth proceed to do another.

    — Stoicism · Meditations, 5.VI, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗

  • When thou hast done well, and another is benefited by thy action, must thou like a very fool look for a third thing besides, as that it may appear unto others also that thou hast done well, or that thou mayest in time, receive one good turn for another? No man useth to be weary of that which is beneficial unto him. But every action according to nature, is beneficial. Be not weary then of doing that which is beneficial unto thee, whilst it is so unto others.

    — Stoicism · Meditations, 7.XLIII, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗

  • Therefore the (ruling) sage acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest (arrogantly) in it:--he does not wish to display his superiority.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 73-80.77, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • Who though longing for it themselves, bestowed their food on the poor and the orphan and the captive: 'We feed you for the sake of God: we seek from you neither recompense nor thanks.'

    — Qur’an · Qur'an, 71-76.76:8-9, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗

  • A skilful (commander) strikes a decisive blow, and stops. He does not dare (by continuing his operations) to assert and complete his mastery. He will strike the blow, but will be on his guard against being vain or boastful or arrogant in consequence of it. He strikes it as a matter of necessity; he strikes it, but not from a wish for mastery.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 25-32.30, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • The gift selfishly given, where to receive Is hoped again, or when some end is sought, Or where the gift is proffered with a grudge, This is of Rajas, stained with impulse, ill.

    — Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 16.Chapter 17, near the end, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗

  • But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

    — Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Matthew.Matthew 6:3-4, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗

  • The sage does not accumulate (for himself). The more that he expends for others, the more does he possess of his own; the more that he gives to others, the more does he have himself.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 81-81.81, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

Self-knowledge over self-display

Honest inward examination — seeing your own faults clearly — matters more than reputation, performance, or outward show.

34 passages · 7 traditions

+ 28 more in this facet →
  • A wise man does not speak before one who is greater than he in wisdom, And does not break into his fellow's speech; And is not hasty to answer; He asks what is relevant, and he answers to the point; And he speaks of the first [point] first, and of the last [point] last; And concerning that which he has not heard, he says: I have not heard; And he acknowledges the truth.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 5.5:7, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

    — Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, 1 John.1 John 1:8, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗

  • And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

    — Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Luke.Luke 15:17-19, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗

  • What the superior man seeks, is in himself. What the mean man seeks, is in others.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 15.20, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches his legs does not walk (easily). (So), he who displays himself does not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished; he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged; he who is self-conceited has no superiority allowed to him.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 17-24.24, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

    — Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Proverbs.Proverbs 28:13, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗

  • When thou art offended with any man's transgression, presently reflect upon thyself; and consider what thou thyself art guilty of in the same kind. For this if thou shalt call to mind, thou shalt soon forget thine anger; especially when at the same time this also shall concur in thy thoughts, that he was constrained by his error and ignorance so to do: for how can he choose as long as he is of that opinion?

    — Stoicism · Meditations, 10.XXX, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗

  • If anybody shall reprove me, and shall make it apparent unto me, that in any either opinion or action of mine I do err, I will most gladly retract. For it is the truth that I seek after, by which I am sure that never any man was hurt; and as sure, that he is hurt that continueth in any error, or ignorance whatsoever.

    — Stoicism · Meditations, 6.XX, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗

  • He who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 49-56.56, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • anyone whose fear of sin precedes his wisdom, his wisdom is enduring, but anyone whose wisdom precedes his fear of sin, his wisdom is not enduring. He [also] used to say: anyone whose deeds exceed his wisdom, his wisdom is enduring, but anyone whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, his wisdom is not enduring.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 3.3:9, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • If a minister make his own conduct correct, what difficulty will he have in assisting in government? If he cannot rectify himself, what has he to do with rectifying others?

    — Confucianism · Analects, 13.13, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • He is free from self-display, and therefore he shines; from self-assertion, and therefore he is distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore his merit is acknowledged; from self-complacency, and therefore he acquires superiority. It is because he is thus free from striving that therefore no one in the world is able to strive with him.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 17-24.22, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. Those who are skilled (in the Tao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it. Those who know (the Tao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know it.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 81-81.81, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • And follow not that of which thou hast no knowledge; because the hearing and the sight and the heart,-each of these shall be enquired of.

    — Qur’an · Qur'an, 17.17:36, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗

  • When internal examination discovers nothing wrong, what is there to be anxious about, what is there to fear?

    — Confucianism · Analects, 12.4, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 2.13, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with virtue.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 17.17, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty. He who is satisfied with his lot is rich; he who goes on acting with energy has a (firm) will.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 33-40.33, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 1.3, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • Not the perversities of others, not their sins of commission or omission, but his own misdeeds and negligences should a sage take notice of.

    — Buddhism · Dhammapada, 4.v.50, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗

  • In ancient times, men learned with a view to their own improvement. Now-a-days, men learn with a view to the approbation of others.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 14.25, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

    — Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Matthew.Matthew 7:3-5, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗

  • When we see men of worth, we should think of equalling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 4.17, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • At first, my way with men was to hear their words, and give them credit for their conduct. Now my way is to hear their words, and look at their conduct.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 5.9, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • I will not be concerned at men's not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 14.32, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

    — Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Psalms.Psalms 139:23-24, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗

  • The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides, as a cheat hides the bad die from the gambler.

    — Buddhism · Dhammapada, 18.v.252, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗

  • Do not seek greatness for yourself, and do not covet honor. Practice more than you learn. Do not yearn for the table of kings, for your table is greater than their table, and your crown is greater than their crown, and faithful is your employer to pay you the reward of your labor.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 6.6:5, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

Contentment as a form of wisdom

Wanting less, rejoicing in one's portion, and resisting the pull of status and wealth is itself a kind of strength.

23 passages · 6 traditions

+ 17 more in this facet →

Lowering yourself to receive and to serve

Placing yourself beneath others — as student, servant, or listener — is the posture that enables learning, leadership, and genuine strength.

18 passages · 5 traditions

  • Thy Lord hath ordained that ye worship none but him; and, kindness to your parents, whether one or both of them attain to old age with thee: and say not to them, 'Fie!' neither reproach them; but speak to them both with respectful speech; And defer humbly to them out of tenderness; and say, 'Lord, have compassion on them both, even as they reared me when I was little.'

    — Qur’an · Qur'an, 17.17:23-24, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗

  • Engage but little in business, and busy yourself with the Torah. Be of humble spirit before all men. If you have neglected the Torah, you shall have many who bring you to neglect it, but if you have labored at the study of Torah, there is much reward to give unto you.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 4.4:10, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Have no friends not equal to yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 1.8, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues. The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things).

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 9-16.16, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • A good eye, a humble spirit and a moderate appetite — he is of the disciples of Abraham, our father. An evil eye, a haughty spirit and a limitless appetite — he is of the disciples of Balaam, the wicked.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 5.5:19, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • One who learns from his fellow one chapter, or one halakhah, or one verse, or one word, or even one letter, is obligated to treat him with honor.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 6.6:3, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

+ 12 more in this facet →
  • let thy house be a house of meeting for the Sages and sit in the very dust of their feet, and drink in their words with thirst.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 1.1:4, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • Whoever occupies himself with the Torah for its own sake, merits many things; not only that but he is worth the whole world. He is called beloved friend; one that loves God; one that loves humankind; one that gladdens God; one that gladdens humankind. And the Torah clothes him in humility and reverence, and equips him to be righteous, pious, upright and trustworthy; it keeps him far from sin, and brings him near to merit.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 6.6:1, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Have no friends not equal to yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 9.24, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • Be not therefore ashamed, whensoever thou must use the help of others. For whatsoever it be that lieth upon thee to effect, thou must propose it unto thyself, as the scaling of walls is unto a soldier. And what if thou through either lameness or some other impediment art not able to reach unto the top of the battlements alone, which with the help of another thou mayst; wilt thou therefore give it over, or go about it with less courage and alacrity, because thou canst not effect it all alone?

    — Stoicism · Meditations, 7.V, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗

  • love work, hate acting the superior, and do not attempt to draw near to the ruling authority.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 1.1:10, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 7.21, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

  • I have three precious things which I prize and hold fast. The first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others. With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a vessel of the highest honour.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 65-72.67, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • Let the honor of your student be as dear to you as your own, and the honor of your colleague as the reverence for your teacher, and the reverence for your teacher as the reverence of heaven.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 4.4:12, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower than they;--it is thus that they are the kings of them all. So it is that the sage (ruler), wishing to be above men, puts himself by his words below them, and, wishing to be before them, places his person behind them.

    — Taoism · Tao Te Ching, 65-72.66, tr. James Legge, 1891 ↗

  • appoint for thyself a teacher, and acquire for thyself a companion and judge all men with the scale weighted in his favor.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 1.1:6, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • Do not separate yourself from the community. Do not trust in yourself until the day of your death. Do not judge your fellow man until you have reached his place. Say not: 'when I shall have leisure I shall study;' perhaps you will not have leisure.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 2.2:4, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

  • Do not seek greatness for yourself, and do not covet honor. Practice more than you learn. Do not yearn for the table of kings, for your table is greater than their table, and your crown is greater than their crown, and faithful is your employer to pay you the reward of your labor.

    — Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 6.6:5, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗

The pride that undoes itself

Arrogance, boasting, and self-assertion carry within them the seed of their own collapse.

27 passages · 7 traditions

  • Fearlessness, singleness of soul, the will / Always to strive for wisdom; opened hand / And governed appetites; and piety, / And love of lonely study; humbleness, / Uprightness, heed to injure nought which lives, / Truthfulness, slowness unto wrath, a mind / That lightly letteth go what others prize; / And equanimity, and charity / Which spieth no man's faults; and tenderness / Towards all that suffer; a contented heart, / Fluttered by no desires; a bearing mild, / Modest, and grave, with manhood nobly mixed, / With patience, fortitude, and purity; / An unrevengeful spirit, never given / To rate itself too high;--such be the signs, / O Indian Prince! of him whose feet are set / On that fair path which leads to heavenly birth!

    — Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 15.XVI, opening, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗

  • Humbleness, truthfulness, and harmlessness, Patience and honour, reverence for the wise. Purity, constancy, control of self, Contempt of sense-delights, self-sacrifice, Perception of the certitude of ill In birth, death, age, disease, suffering, and sin; Detachment, lightly holding unto home, Children, and wife, and all that bindeth men; An ever-tranquil heart in fortunes good And fortunes evil, with a will set firm To worship Me--Me only! ceasing not; Loving all solitudes, and shunning noise Of foolish crowds; endeavours resolute To reach perception of the Utmost Soul, And grace to understand what gain it were So to attain,--this is true Wisdom, Prince! And what is otherwise is ignorance!

    — Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 12.XIII, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗

  • We will not have more regard to thee than to the clear tokens which have come to us, or than to Him who hath made us: doom the doom thou wilt: Thou canst only doom as to this present life.

    — Qur’an · Qur'an, 20.20:72, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗

  • Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

    — Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Proverbs.Proverbs 16:18, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗

  • We have not created the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is between them in sport: We have not created them but for a serious end: but the greater part of them understand it not.

    — Qur’an · Qur'an, 44.44:38-39, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗

  • To be able to practise five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue. Gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. If you are grave, you will not be treated with disrespect. If you are generous, you will win all. If you are sincere, people will repose trust in you. If you are earnest, you will accomplish much. If you are kind, this will enable you to employ the services of others.

    — Confucianism · Analects, 17.6, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗

+ 21 more in this facet →