It is always the secure who are humble – Gilbert Keith Chesterton
A Short Story on Humility
Several years ago, a lone rider came across a group of soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log without much success. Their corporal was standing by as his men struggled. The rider asked the corporal why he wasn’t helping. The corporal replied, “I am the corporal; My job is to give orders.”
The rider dismounted without saying a word and helped the soldiers. Within no time the log got moved.
The rider then mounted his horse and went to the corporal and said, “The next time your men need help, send for the Commander-in-Chief.”
Only after he had left, did the corporal and his men find out that the rider was none other than George Washington.
7-Pointed wisdom
- Humility is one of the highest regarded virtues, yet one of the most difficult to attain or emulate in an appropriate manner. It requires constant self-reflection, awareness and openness on one’s part to truly master this trait. As William Temple states: Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all.
2. The opposite of humility is pride or to be more precise, vainglory, because pride in the correct sense is what holds a virtuous man on a steadfast course, and if his course is a righteous one, then his pride will be his shield. Vainglory on the other hand is being hungry for praise and accolades, to a point where every goal becomes ego driven.
3. Quote: Don’t talk about yourself; it will be done when you leave – Wilson Mizner.
4. Quote: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care – Author Unknown.
5. Quote: When someone sings his own praises, he always gets the tune too high – Mary H. Waldrip
6. Self Awareness statement: People don’t care how much I know until they know how much I care. I will remind myself that the bough laden heavy with fruit always hangs low, and act accordingly.
7. Call to Action: Do you know someone in your life who emulates this virtue? How does he display humility? Is there a lesson that you can learn from him?
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