The Case for Humility
Humility is not a choice. If it is, it often degenerates into what Jane Austen had described
Nothing is more deceitful, said Darcy, than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast. (Pride and Prejudice).
Rather, it is an inescapable fate. Since you have no means of knowing the person in front of you in complete detail, the possibility that she is indeed better than you never dies.
There is simply no way to judge anyone. We may judge a particular act of a person. But to judge anyone as a whole is simply impossible. Consider the ones you know the most. Your best friend, Dad, son, spouse. How much do you actually know what goes on in their mind: went on in their mind: the things they did: or will do. If these were 100, do you even know 10 of them? The moments in a person’s life are so numerous that no one can take a complete stock of them. And with such partial information, what judgement can we really make?
There are actual possibilities that they have done absolutely great things. Or nurtured very noble thoughts. Or, forgive me- I will repeat, they will do. We have every reason to assume that the person before you is nobler than you. Hence, the only way to approach her is to be humble.
What we have discussed so far are the factual aspects of the case . Something which we can understand as much as we understand the Sun is a million times the size of Earth(by volume). Though it is massive and we struggle to visualise that comparison but we know that is the fact. Let’s call this Factual Humility.
Now, there is another plane for humility, which is aptly summarised by Rick Warren
True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.
For many, this comes easily. But for many others, this is hard. They respect others, are genuinely humble, but think about themselves frequently. “Did I perform well?”, “Was I honest?”, “Have I done my bit?”, “Or, Did I respect him sufficiently?”!, so go their thoughts, but about themselves. I find myself in this second category.
But practicing factual humility, I guess, helps us attain the latter type of humility by and by. And that is relief. Being full of oneself can be a very heavy burden .