Humility

Humility is knowing one’s self well, being honest with one’s self, and representing one’s self honestly to others.  Humility comes from the word humus, earth. Therefore, humble people are down to earth and grounded in reality – both the reality of the world and the reality of the self.

Humility does not require of us to underrate ourselves, minimize our gifts and maximize our shortcomings. Genuine humility, however, is truthfulness: we acknowledge both our talents and our failings. Humility should not be confused with passivity. Instead, humility is about claiming and acting upon the conviction that every human being is worthy of dignity.