Complementary virtues¶
Contrasting vices¶
- arrogance
- egotism
- humiliation / abasedness (vice of excess)
- inferiority complex (vice of excess)
- obsequiousness (vice of excess)
- puffing ones self up
- self-importance
- sheepishness (vice of excess)
- vanity
Virtues possibly in tension¶
How to acquire or strengthen it¶
- If you are searching for humility because you’re trying to reduce a tendency to grandiosity, braggadocio, and self-involvement, maybe, ironically, you need to work on “self esteem”/“self worth” so you won’t feel so much need to overcompensate. (see e.g. Brene Brown)
Notes and links¶
- Notes on Humility (David, LessWrong)
- Seems at first to conflict with the virtue of “pride”. Perhaps pride is at the Aristotelian golden mean between arrogance and poor self-esteem. You’d tell an arrogant person to work on their humility, and a nebbish to work on their pride — and this wouldn’t be contradictory, but would be context-appropriate ways of telling two differently-situated people to aim for the same virtuous mean.
- www.viastrengths.org/character-strengths/humility
- positivepsychologynews.com/news/kathryn-britton/2010060811536
- www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/humility.html
- greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_do_you_know_if_youre_actually_humble
- lithub.com/why-being-humble-is-actually-in-our-self-interest
Mentioned elsewhere¶
- One of the Seven Christian Virtues of Prudentius (grouped with modesty, reverence).
- One of Shannon Vallor’s "technomoral virtues".
- One of the 13 virtues on the list of Ben Franklin’s virtues.
Inspirational quotes¶
- “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that is wants to live humbly for one.” ―Wilhelm Stekel
- “Perfection is impossible without humility. ‘Why should I strive for perfection, if I am already good enough?’” — Tolstoy
- “Think of the whole universe of matter and how small your share. Think about the expanse of time and how brief — almost momentary — the part marked for you. Think of the workings of fate and how infinitesimal your role.” —Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.24
- “Look upon the man who tells thee thy faults as if he told thee of a hidden treasure, the wise man who shows thee the dangers of life. Follow that man: he who follows him will see good and not evil.” Dhammapada 76
- “Humility requires realism and humour.” —Iris Murdoch Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals p. 325
