Humility
Humility is the quality of being humble. 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.
Etymology
The term "humility" comes from the Latin noun wikt:humilitas#Latin, related to the adjective wikt:humilis#Latin, which may be translated as "humble", but also as "grounded" or "from the earth", since it derives from the word wikt:humus#Latin.The word "humble" may be related to feudal England where the least valuable cuts of meat, or "umbles", were provided to the lowest class of citizens.
Religious views on humility
In a religious context, humility can mean a self-recognition of a deity and subsequent submission to that deity as a religious member. Outside of a religious context, humility is defined as being "unselved," or liberated from the consciousness of self, a form of temperance that is neither having pride nor indulging in self-deprecation.In both religious and philosophical contexts, humility can be regarded as a virtue that prioritizes social harmony, striking a balance between two sets of qualities. This equilibrium lies in having a reduced focus on oneself, which leads to a proportionate sense of self-importance and diminished arrogance, while also possessing the ability to demonstrate strength, assertiveness, and courage. This virtue is exhibited in the pursuit of upholding social harmony and recognizing our human dependence on it. It contrasts with maliciousness, hubris, and other negative forms of pride and is an idealistic and rare intrinsic construct that has an extrinsic side.
Abrahamic
Judaism
states that, in Judaism, humility is an appreciation of oneself, and one's talents, skills, and virtues. It is not meekness or self-deprecating thought, but the effacing of oneself to something higher. Humility is not to think lowly of oneself, but to appreciate the self one is. In recognition of the mysteries and complexities of life, one becomes humbled by the vastness of what one is and what one can achieve.Rabbi Pini Dunner discusses that humility is to place others first; it is to appreciate others' worth as important. Rabbi Dunner states that Moses wrote in the Torah, "And Moses was exceedingly humble, more than any man on the face of the earth". Dunner recognizes what seems to be a paradox in the passage, that one who claims to be humble comes across as arrogant. However, Dunner concludes that believing highly of yourself is not arrogant when one recognizes that power comes from God.
The deuterocanonical Book of Sirach section on humility in chapter 3, commences, "My son, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts". The editors of the New American Bible Revised Edition suggest that the writer "is perhaps warning his students against the perils of Greek philosophy".
Amongst the benefits of humility described in the Hebrew Bible, which is shared by many faiths, are honor, wisdom, prosperity, the protection of the Lord, and peace. In addition, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" is another phrase in the Hebrew Bible that values humility and humbleness.
General Christianity
The New Testament exhortations to humility are found in many places, for example, "Blessed are the meek", "He who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted", as well as and throughout the Book of James.Jesus Christ's behavior and submission to unjust torture and execution in particular are examples of righteous humility: "Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but delivered himself to him that judged him justly".
C. S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity that pride is the "anti-God" state, the position in which the ego and the self are directly opposed to God: "Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through pride that the devil became the devil: pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind."
In contrast, Lewis contends that in Christian moral teaching the opposite of pride is humility. This is popularly illustrated by a phrase wrongly attributed to Lewis, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." This is an apparent paraphrase, by Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life, of a passage found in Mere Christianity: Lewis writes, regarding the truly humble man.
One with humility is said to be a fit recipient of grace; according to the words of Saint James, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".
"True" humility differs from "false" humility: the latter consists of deprecating one's own sanctity, gifts, talents, and accomplishments for the sake of receiving praise or adulation from others. This has been personified by the fictional character Uriah Heep created by Charles Dickens. In this context legitimate humility comprises the following behaviors and attitudes:
- submitting to God and legitimate authority;
- recognizing virtues and talents that others possess, particularly those that surpass one's own, and giving due honor and, when required, obedience;
- recognizing the limits of one's talents, ability, or authority.
- Pride;
- Too great obsequiousness or abjection of oneself; this would be considered an excess of humility and could easily be derogatory to one's office or holy character; or it might serve only to pamper pride in others, by unworthy flattery, which would occasion their sins of tyranny, arbitrariness, and arrogance. The virtue of humility may not be practiced in any external way that would occasion vices in others.
Catholicism
Bernard of Clairvaux defines it as “a virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, abases himself. Jesus Christ is the ultimate definition of Humility."
Saint Augustine stresses the importance of humility in the study of the Bible, with the exemplars of a barbarian Christian slave, the apostle Paul, and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. Both learner and teacher need to be humble, because they learn and teach what ultimately belongs to God. Humility is a basic disposition of the interpreter of the Bible. The confidence of the exegete and preacher arises from the conviction that their mind depends on God absolutely. Augustine argues that the interpreter of the Bible should proceed with humility, because only a humble person can grasp the truth of Scripture.
Humility was a virtue extolled by Francis of Assisi, and this form of Franciscan piety led to the artistic development of the Madonna of humility first used by the Franciscans for contemplation. The Virgin of humility sits on the ground, or upon a low cushion, unlike the Enthroned Madonna representations. This style of painting spread quickly through Italy, and, by 1375, examples began to appear in Spain, France, and Germany. It became the most popular among the styles of the early Trecento artistic period.
Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century philosopher and theologian in the Scholastic tradition, says, "The virtue of humility... consists in keeping oneself within one's own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one's superior".
Islam
In the Qur'an, various Arabic words conveying the meaning of humility are used. The very term "Islam" can be interpreted as "surrender, humility", from the triconsonantal root S-L-M; other words used are and :Jainism
In Jainism, humility, generally referred to as "Vinay", is a supreme virtue which is essential for eliminating ego and attaining spiritual liberation. In Jainism, humility is expressed through the virtues Mārdava and Vinay. It is regarded as a fundamental ethical quality necessary for spiritual advancement and liberation. Jain teachings describe humility as essential for spiritual growth, comparing it to the low position of the sea that enables all rivers to flow into it, symbolizing the strength that comes from lowering one's ego. It is described as a discipline that cultivates humbleness toward everyone, helping one overcome ego and anger.Jain philosophy classifies Mārdava as one of the daśa-dharma. It is defined as the absence of arrogance stemming from birth, learning, austerity, wealth, or status. Humility functions as the antidote to māna, one of the principal passions that obstruct the soul’s purification. It is regarded as indispensable for the cultivation of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct, the three pillars of the Jain path to liberation.
The Tattvārtha Sūtra explicitly lists Mārdava among the highest virtues and describes it as a key ethical disposition required for the purification of conduct. Traditional commentaries explain that humility allows one to accept discipline, avoid deceit, and maintain inner calm. The Uttarādhyayana Sūtra emphasizes Vinay as a core element of monastic and lay conduct, stressing respectful behaviour toward teachers, elders, and all living beings. Humility in this text is associated with restraint of speech, gentleness, and modest interpersonal conduct.
In Jainism, humility is encouraged to be practiced through modest speech, gentleness, honesty, and avoidance of self-praise. The belief that all souls are equally capable of liberation encourages Jains to avoid hierarchical pride and to treat all beings with respect. For monastics, humility is prescribed through behavioral rules concerning learning, speech, posture, and interactions, while laypersons cultivate humility in social relations and religious observances.