60+ Best Humility Quotes To Help You Stay Humble

Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Dec 12, 2023 By Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Originally Published on Feb 03, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
Woman praying with her hands together over a closed Bible.
?
Age: 0-99
Read time: 8.6 Min

Humility is important for every human being because it teaches us to accept ourselves and our flaws, and become trustworthy and likeable to those around us.

Not just that, humility makes us open to criticisms. It helps us to shun our ego and self-centeredness so that we can learn and grow, both intellectually and emotionally.

The Holy Bible, too, upholds the virtue of humility and says that pride brings disgrace but humility brings wisdom. Further, it also says that God gives grace to the humble and opposes those that are proud.

But irrespective of your faith, humility is a quality that you can cultivate for your personal transformation and growth. Practicing humility is a continuous and everyday process that magnifies positive traits like kindness, generosity, and integrity.

It is important as it allows us to ground ourselves and be grateful for all the good in our life. Here we have over 60 beautiful inspiring life quotes that will help you practice and develop the wonderful trait of humility.

If you like this content, then do check out our [be nice quotes] and [be present quotes].

Famous Quotes About Being Humble

Man meditating yoga at sunset mountains Travel Lifestyle relaxation emotional concept adventure summer vacations outdoor harmony with nature

These 'stay humble' quotes below will teach you what it means to show kindness and humility. We think you'll find many of these motivational, too.

1. “Humility, gentleness, and helpfulness go so much further and open doors you cannot imagine.”

-Ann Tran.

2. “An intelligent person is never afraid or ashamed to find errors in their understanding of things.”

-Bryant H. McGill.

3. “Humility and knowledge in poor clothes excel pride and ignorance in costly attire.”

-William Penn.

4. "I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others."

-Lao Tzu.

5. “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”

-Ernest Hemingway.

6. “Sports are such a great teacher. I think of everything they’ve taught me: camaraderie, humility, how to resolve differences.”

-Kobe Bryant.

7. “It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.”

-Mahatma Gandhi.

8. “Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.”

-Confucius.

9. "Sometimes it takes humiliation to teach us the value of humility."

-Mufti Menk.

10. "Where there is humility, there is more success, and lasting success."

-Patrick Lencioni.

11. " A humble person is totally different from a person who cannot recognize and appreciate himself as part of this worlds’ marvels."

-Rabino Nilton Bonder.

12. "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less."

-Rick Warren.

13. "If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are."

-Mother Teresa.

14. "Pride makes us artificial; humility makes us real."

-Thomas Merton.

15. "If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. If you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them."

-Lao Tzu.

16. "All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power."

-Lao Tzu.

17. "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility."

-John Ruskin.

18. "He that places himself neither higher nor lower than he ought to do exercises the truest humility."

-Charles Caleb Colton.

Insightful 'Be Humble' Quotes

Check out some of the best and most motivational humility quotes below with messages that you can implement in real life.

19. "Stay hungry, stay young, stay foolish, stay curious, and above all, stay humble because just when you think you got all the answers, is the moment when some bitter twist of fate in the universe will remind you that you very much don’t."

-Tom Hiddleston

20. "Humility is really important because it keeps you fresh and new."

-Steven Tyler.

21. "Humility is nothing but truth, and pride is nothing but lying."

-St. Vincent De Paul.

22. “There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self.”

-Henri-Frederic Amiel.

23. "A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being."

-James E. Faust.

24. "The moment that humility becomes self-conscious, it becomes hubris. One cannot be humble and aware of oneself at the same time."

-Madeleine L'Engle.

25. "A great man is always willing to be little."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson.

26. “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”

-Saint Augustine.

27. "Humility is the key to moral excellence."

-Venerable Master Hsin Yun.

28. “Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change.”

-Frank Lloyd Wright.

29. "The truth is no matter how smart, successful, good-looking you are, nobody likes a boastful person. Nobody likes arrogance or cockiness. So make a conscious effort to stay humble always."

-Mufti Menk.

30. “Have more humility. Remember you don't know the limits of your own abilities. Successful or not, if you keep pushing beyond yourself, you will enrich your own life – and maybe even please a few strangers.”

-A. L. Kennedy.

31. "I always say be humble but be firm. Humility and openness are the key to success without compromising your beliefs."

-George Hickenlooper.

32. “Real genius is nothing else but the supernatural virtue of humility in the domain of thought.”

-Simone Weil.

33. "Life is a long lesson in humility."

-James M. Barrie.

34. “Who is more humble? The scientist who looks at the universe with an open mind and accepts whatever the universe has to teach us, or somebody who says everything in this book must be considered the literal truth and never mind the fallibility of all the human beings involved?”

-Carl Sagan.

35. "Humility, that low, sweet root

From which all heavenly virtues shoot."

-Thomas Moore.

36. "The greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility."

-Charles Caleb Colton.

37. "Many people believe that humility is the opposite of pride, when, in fact, it is a point of equilibrium. The opposite of pride is actually a lack of self-esteem."

-Rabino Nilton Bonder.

38. "Selflessness is humility...humility and freedom go hand in hand. Only a humble person can be free."

-Jeff Wilson.

39. "Humble people share the credit and wealth, remaining focused and hungry to continue the journey of success."

-Rick Pitino.

40. "Remember that there is nothing noble in being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self."

-W. L. Sheldon.

41. "Successful people lose their way at times. They often embrace and overindulge from the fruits of success. Humility halts this arrogance and self-indulging trap."

-Rick Pitino.

42. "True humility is being able to accept criticisms as graciously as we accept compliments."

-Sabrina Newby.

43. "Humility is the true key to success."

-Rick Pitino.

44. "The best of people is the one who humbles himself the more his rank increases."

-Prophet Muhammad.

45. “'Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.”

-Alice Walker.

Religion Quotes About Humility

 

Here is a compilation of the best humility quotes with religious references.

46. "An angel fell from Heaven without any other passion except pride, and so we may ask whether it is possible to ascend to Heaven by humility alone, without any other of the virtues."

-John Climacus.

47. “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on thing and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.”

-C. S. Lewis.

48. “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”

-Saint Augustine.

49. "Only a person who has passed through the gate of humility can ascend to the heights of the spirit."

-Rudolf Steiner.

50. “True humility-the basis of the Christian system-is the low but deep and firm foundation of all virtues.”

-Edmund Burke.

51. “The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us, and carry out, in our ordinary conduct..."

-Andrew Murray.

52. "A Christian reveals true humility by showing the gentleness of Christ, by being always ready to help others, by speaking kind words and performing unselfish acts, which elevate and ennoble the most sacred message that has come to our world."

-Ellen G. White.

53. “The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love.”

-Pope Francis.

54. "True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit ; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us."

-Tryon Edwards.

Witty And Funny Humility Quotes

Humility quotes need not always sound dull and preachy. These witty quotes here to prove just that!

55. "On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom."

-Michel de Montaigne.

56. "He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow."

-George Eliot.

57. "If only I had a little humility, I would be perfect."

-Ted Turner.

58. "Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale."

-Adlai Stevenson.

59. "The advantage of doing one's praising to oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right places."

-Samuel Butler.

60. "Don't talk about yourself; it will be done when you leave."

-Wilson Mizner.

61. "Any party which takes credit for the rain must not be surprised if its opponents blame it for the drought."

-Dwight Morrow.

62. "A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle."

-Benjamin Franklin.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for humility quotes then why not take a look at our be bold quotes, or be fearless quotes.

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Rajnandini Roychoudhury

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

Rajnandini Roychoudhury picture

Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature. 

Read full bio >