Self-accusation before God is something that is very necessary for us; and humility of heart is extremely advantageous in our lives, above all at the time of prayer. For prayer requires great attention and needs a proper awareness, otherwise it will turn out to be unacceptable and rejected, and `it will be turned back empty’ to our bosom.
- Martyrius of Edessa
It is not necessary to roam heaven and earth after God or to send our mind to seek Him in different places. Purify your soul, O son of man, remove from yourself the thought of memories outside of nature; hang the veil of chastity and humility before your impulses. By means of these you will be able to find Him who is within you.
- St. Isaac the Syrian
Incline us oh God! to think humbly of ourselves, to be severe only in the examination of our own conduct, to consider our fellow-creatures with kindness, and to judge of all they say and do with that charity which we would desire from them ourselves.
- Jane Austen
Never do a job without putting your trust in God with great humility, because otherwise you will agonize and you will tire your mind and soul. It is a lack of faith that hides behind anxiety, but pride can cause anxiety also.
- Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos
But to be saved, we must humble ourselves, for the proud man, even were he to be set down in Paradise would not find peace there but would be discontent, and say, “Why am I not up in the front rank?” But the humble soul is filled with love and does not seek to be in the foreground. The humble soul wishes good things to all men, and in all things is content.
May you love one another and not be embittered by reason of egotism. Humility is a sure guide; it does not allow the one who has it to strike against the reefs of carelessness and be crushed, but as a luminous guide it leads faultlessly to safety.
- Elder Ephraim of Philotheou Mount Athos, “Counsels from the Holy Mountain”
Examine yourself and strive to adorn it with love, humility, compassion and hope. Seek the regeneration of your soul, enlightened by the voice of the Gospel and helped by God. With fear and love for the Heavenly Father, proceed to sow the seeds of God’s word on good soil. Cultivate the talent given by Christ for the salvation of your soul.
- St. Raphael of Lesvos the Wonderworker
Humility is the only thing we need; one can still fall having virtues other than humility—but with humility one does not fall.
- Elder Herman of Mount Athos
Humility and ascetic hardship free a man from all sin, for the one cuts out the passions of the soul, the other those of the body. This is what the blessed David indicates when he prays to God, saying, ‘Look on my humility and my toil, and forgive all my sins’ (Ps. 25: 18).
- St. Maximos the Confessor
Everyone who prays to God, “Lord, give me humility” ought to know what he is praying for, namely that God send him someone to mistreat him. And when he is insulted by someone, he ought to criticize himself and despise his own opinion so that when the other man humiliates him outwardly, he too humiliates himself inwardly.
There is a case where a man not only rejoices to be treated harshly and attributes the cause to himself, but he is also grieved at the commotion in the one who mistreats him. May God bring us all to such a state as this.
- St. Dorotheos of Gaza
Amma Theodora said that neither asceticism, nor vigils, nor any kind of suffering are able to save. Only true humility can do that. There was a hermit who was able to banish the demons. And he asked them: “What makes you go away? Is it fasting?” They replied: “We do not eat or drink.” “Is it vigils?” They said: “We do not sleep.” “Then what power sends you away?” They replied: “Nothing can overcome us except humility alone.” Amma Theodora said: “Do you see how humility is victorious over the demons?
- Amma Theodora, one of the Desert Mothers
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of sloth, despair, lust for power and idle talk. But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity humility, patience and love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother. For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Just as one cannot build a ship unless one has some nails, so it is impossible to be saved without humility.
- Amma Syncletica
The humble person believes that all things depend on Christ and that Christ gives His grace and in that way he makes progress. The person who possesses holy humility lives even now in the earthly uncreated Church. He always has the joy of Christ, even in the most displeasing circumstances….
- Elder Porphyrios
Just as it is impossible to fight battles without weapons, or to swim a great sea with clothes on, or to live without breathing, so without humility and the constant prayer to Christ it is impossible to master the art of inward spiritual warfare or to set about it and pursue it skillfully.
- St. Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness
