Humility?
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,742
Hmm.
I'd like to know how you believe a person gains humility?
If humility is the surrender of ego, then it is not something one seeks to gain. Is it not something that is given? A grace, perhaps? In which case, there is no pride.
I'd like to know how you believe a person gains humility?
If humility is the surrender of ego, then it is not something one seeks to gain. Is it not something that is given? A grace, perhaps? In which case, there is no pride.
Sober Alcoholic
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,539
This is from chapter 14 of "The Screwtape Letters" by Sinclair Lewis. Its a fictional account of letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil.
"All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is specially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, “By jove! I’m being humble”, and almost immediately pride — pride at his own humility
— will appear. If he awakes to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt — and so on, through as many stages as you please. But don’t try this too long, for fear you awake his sense of humour and proportion, in which case he will merely laugh at you and go to bed."
Here is a link to the free online book if you wish to read more.
http://www.samizdat.qc.ca/arts/lit/P...etters_CSL.pdf
"All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is specially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, “By jove! I’m being humble”, and almost immediately pride — pride at his own humility
— will appear. If he awakes to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt — and so on, through as many stages as you please. But don’t try this too long, for fear you awake his sense of humour and proportion, in which case he will merely laugh at you and go to bed."
Here is a link to the free online book if you wish to read more.
http://www.samizdat.qc.ca/arts/lit/P...etters_CSL.pdf Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
There are probably as many answers to that type of question as there are people to answer it... ;-) Sometimes we tend to overthink things...make sure you aren't doing so as it can really be counterproductive.
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
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the act of gaining humility is the act of being teachable. pride and teachability dont go together.
pride tells me i know everything.
humility tells me i know nothing but want to learn.
pride tells me i know everything.
humility tells me i know nothing but want to learn.
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
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Originally Posted by awuh1 
This is from chapter 14 of "The Screwtape Letters" by Sinclair Lewis. Its a fictional account of letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil.
Sinclair Lewis is a whole other kettle of fish
Coincidentally, my favourite quote on humility:
I think, if you're doing it right, humility and pride shouldn't meet.
D
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: canada
Posts: 7,242
i don't think of gaining humility as any kind of act. mostly, it's a process...and not one of gaining as much as it is a process of ridding of other 'traits'.
humility is what's left afterwards.
we gain it by losing.
humility is what's left afterwards.
we gain it by losing.
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,981
"We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol, that our life had become unmanageable"
This is why it is the first step in AA. We have egos that we can control it, stop at anytime we want to, but that isn't the truth.
This is why it is the first step in AA. We have egos that we can control it, stop at anytime we want to, but that isn't the truth.
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 1,111
This is my specialist subject. I am the most humble person I know 
I suppose there are at least two ideas about humility...one is slightly grovelling, as in eating humble pie...
The other is that humility means perspective. Each of us is just human...no better or worse than the next. So a symptom of pride is admiring our own humility, or comparing it with the next persons...
P
I suppose there are at least two ideas about humility...one is slightly grovelling, as in eating humble pie...
The other is that humility means perspective. Each of us is just human...no better or worse than the next. So a symptom of pride is admiring our own humility, or comparing it with the next persons...
P
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,742
Ah, now I understand your perspective.
As far as admiring one's own humility, or noticing a lack of it in others, what I find to be true for myself is that I gain in compassion for others, to literally be able to put myself in their words, their thoughts, to inhabit their mind spaces and to find myself there with them. It is incredible, but I don't necessarily admire this trait in myself. I simply observe it. I know I am not unique. I have many teachers who are with me and beyond me.
As far as admiring one's own humility, or noticing a lack of it in others, what I find to be true for myself is that I gain in compassion for others, to literally be able to put myself in their words, their thoughts, to inhabit their mind spaces and to find myself there with them. It is incredible, but I don't necessarily admire this trait in myself. I simply observe it. I know I am not unique. I have many teachers who are with me and beyond me.
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Maine
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Originally Posted by Dee74
CS, not Sinclair.
Sinclair Lewis is a whole other kettle of fish
Coincidentally, my favourite quote on humility:
I think, if you're doing it right, humility and pride shouldn't meet.
D
Sinclair Lewis is a whole other kettle of fish
Coincidentally, my favourite quote on humility:
I think, if you're doing it right, humility and pride shouldn't meet.
D
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,229
i found learning a new instrument humbling. then when some that teach me where considerably younger then me that was also humbling people half my age who can play so well too. and keep in mind in my head i feel like i'm half my age or younger. lol.
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Pacific Coast
Posts: 785
Originally Posted by PhoenixJ
people just know- because they do not have to think about it...
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Arizona
Posts: 107
Having grown up without a father, I am truly humbled by those men younger than me who have taught me how to use a ratchet strap, chainsaw and other such guy things that many are basically taught growing up and take for granted. It is truly humbling to tell someone "I don't know how can you show me" when being asked to perform a task so I get the teachability part as a big component of what being humble really is. Thanks.
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