Humility Keeps Us Real

Posted on April 27, 2026 by mitchteemley
Humility Keeps Us RealPhoto by Kyle Johnson

Thought for the Week

Humility keeps us real: I’m always surprised by the number of attractive, scantily-clad young women who want to be my friends on Facebook. I mean, we don’t have any friends in common, so clearly it’s my sparkling personality and rugged good looks that draw them to me. And then, on the same page, I see the smart ads, targeted “just for me,” offering easy-access bathtubs, and I quickly return to earth.

Most people regard humility as a virtue, as something admirable, but not particularly vital. But it’s far more important than that. Humility (true humility, not its counterfeit) is the thing that grounds us in reality. Because the opposite of humility isn’t pride, it’s delusion. Without humility we cannot see things, especially ourselves, for what they truly are.

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“Life is a long lesson in humility.” ~J.M. Barrie

“On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.” ~Michel de Montaigne

“Never curse a fall. The ground is where humility lives.” ~Yasmin Mogahed

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ~Ernest Hemingway

“’Nothing is more deceitful,’ said Darcy, ‘than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.’” ~Jane Austen

“Really great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not of them, but through them. And they see something divine in every other man and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful.” ~John Ruskin

“For whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

~Luke 9:48

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About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
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57 Responses to Humility Keeps Us Real

  2. Nancy Homlitas says:
    April 27, 2026 at 11:08 am

    Awesome personal quote, Mitch! 🙂

    Reply
  3. gustavo_horta says:
    April 27, 2026 at 11:18 am

    HUMILDADE, HONESTIDADE, HUMANIDADE, HUMOR, HONRA

    Reply
  4. Debi Walter says:
    April 27, 2026 at 11:22 am

    Mitch,
    A regular book I read because of the profound effect it had on me is Andrew Murray’s, Humility. A small book with a powerful punch.

    Reply
  5. Ionia Froment says:
    April 27, 2026 at 11:29 am

    A lesson we all have to learn again and again.

    Reply
  6. pastorpete51 says:
    April 27, 2026 at 11:46 am

    So true Mitch. Thank you for the reminder and all the great quotes.

    Reply
  7. joyindestructible says:
    April 27, 2026 at 12:33 pm

    When humans are completely humbled and return all control to God, where it rightfully belongs, this out of balanced world will be returned to perfect balance, God’s natural order restored. My long-winded way of saying, I agree ;0)

    Reply
  8. BHAViN shUkla says:
    April 27, 2026 at 1:23 pm

    Will remember this – Opposite of humility is delusion!

    Reply
  9. Linda Lee @LadyQuixote says:
    April 27, 2026 at 2:09 pm

    I love your quote, Mitch. And this one: “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ~Ernest Hemingway.

    Reply
  10. chanél desirée says:
    April 27, 2026 at 2:24 pm

    Great thoughts. I’ve been thinking about what makes us “keep it real,” and humility has something to do with it. When we’re mostly trying to “keep it real,” we’re just putting on a front.

    Reply
  11. Andrew McDowell says:
    April 27, 2026 at 2:56 pm

    Better to be humble than hubristic.

    Reply
  12. Eileen Norman says:
    April 27, 2026 at 4:38 pm

    With humility we can laugh at ourselves and continually be amused!

    Reply
  13. Bronlima says:
    April 27, 2026 at 4:49 pm

    I am the best, most humble person in the world…..oops!!!!!!!..

    Reply
  14. SanVercell says:
    April 27, 2026 at 5:59 pm

    Love the post! The opposite of humility is delusion. This made me laugh. I never thought of the opposite of humility like that. However, so true. I will remember this. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  15. Janet from FL says:
    April 27, 2026 at 6:11 pm

    Being a cancer survivor I have health issues caused by my cancer treatments. Now I walk with a quad-cane, but sometimes I fall down. I have learned to accept help getting up, and not be embarrassed, because I am alive and enjoying life.

    Reply
  16. Alabastersky says:
    April 27, 2026 at 6:30 pm

    Good personal quote there 😄🙌

    Reply
  17. bernadette massiah says:
    April 27, 2026 at 9:00 pm

    Thanks for sharing, this keepsake. 🙂

    I see in your future work coming your way soon. Take care!

    Reply
  18. NEERAJ SINGH says:
    April 28, 2026 at 12:00 am

    Nature’s colors at their finest. This is such a soothing perspective.

    Reply
  19. TTT says:
    April 28, 2026 at 6:01 am

    Indeed, the cause of the fall of Lucifer was that he was so delulu to believe he was more than he really was.

    Reply
  20. ibarynt says:
    April 28, 2026 at 8:12 am

    I like this one a lot, Humility is so shy. If you begin talking about it, it leaves – Tim Keller

    Reply
  21. Grant at Writing for Eternity says:
    April 28, 2026 at 10:02 am

    Love those walk-in tubs, Mitch. Years ago, the Lions Club nominated me for the Annual Humility Award. I stood up to accept, and they rescinded the nomination.

    Reply
  22. Nancy Ruegg says:
    April 28, 2026 at 11:12 am

    Such wonderful quote-reminders about a character-quality that needs continual, introspective maintenance. (Prayer would be a good idea too.) A number of these quotes are going into my collection. Thank you, Mitch!

    Reply
  23. Anchored In Peace says:
    April 28, 2026 at 12:24 pm

    I just love your personal quote. It is one that I wrote down and will always remember.

    Reply
  24. Benjamin Nambu says:
    April 28, 2026 at 1:16 pm

    Insightful post…worth saving and reading over and over…humility can be illusive…it took me a long time to realize pride in many things I did thinking they were done out of humility.

    Reply
  25. seekingdivineperspective says:
    April 28, 2026 at 2:29 pm

    Great points, Mitch. True humility isn’t thinking you’re worthless, it’s recognizing that as imperfect as you are, by the grace of God you’re still valuable, and that everyone else is, too. It’s seeing people as they (we) really are. (Divine perspective. 😉 )

    Reply
  26. Michael E. Lynch says:
    April 28, 2026 at 11:12 pm

    I love the quote by Hemingway. Wise words!

    Reply

  27. Pingback: Humility Keeps Us Real – QuietMomentsWithGod

  28. Ab says:
    April 30, 2026 at 11:56 am

    I love this, Mitch. Humility definitely keeps us grounded and helps see things with clarity.

    Reply
  29. boromax says:
    May 4, 2026 at 3:45 pm

    Wow. I knew it. We are surrounded by delusional people. I have long recognized my own delusional condition….

    Reply

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