Quotes

A collection of scriptural meditations from Saints and Fathers of the Church.

Humility

It seems to me that, in all cases when indignity is offered to us, we should be silent; for it is our moment of profit.

St. John Climacus

Humility

If we are humble, God helps us to fight our sinfulness; if we are proud, He does not.

St. Macarius of Optina

Humility

Love and humility form a holy pair; what the first builds, the second binds, thus preventing the building from falling asunder.

St. John Climacus

Humility

As with the appearance of light, darkness retreats; so, at the fragrance of humility, all anger and bitterness vanishes.

St. John Climacus

Humility

Take remarks without grumbling: be thankful when you are scorned, disregarded, ignored. But do not create humbling situations; they are provided in the course of the day as richly as you need. We notice the person who is for ever bowing and fussily servile, and perhaps say, How humble he is! But the truly humble person escapes notice: the world does not know him (I John 3:I); for the world he is mostly a 'zero.'

Tito Colliander

Humility

What salt is for any food, humility is for every virtue. To acquire it, a man must always think of himself with contrition, self-belittlement and painful salf-judgment. But if we acquire it, it will make us sons of God.

St. Isaac the Syrian

Humility

Humility, even without works, can save a man.

St. Isaac the Syrian

Humility

The Christian needs two wings in order to soar upward and attain Paradise: humility and love.

St. Cosmas of Aitolos

Humility

If the humbling of oneself before men is needful that one might be exalted before God, and temporal toil is the prerequisite of immortal life, what does it matter if some shake their heads and laugh at your self-abasement?

St. Nikolai Velimirovic

Humility

When you humble yourself, everyone will seem saintly to you; when you are proud, everyone will seem bothersome and bad.

Elder Joseph the Hesychast

Humility

Not one of us can boast of having acquired humility: our actions, the whole of our life, prove the contrary. And where there is a lack of humility, pride is always present. Where light is wanting, darkness reigns.

St. Macarius of Optina

Humility

Labor to acquire meekness. Concerning the heavenly virtues, meekness and humility, the Lord Himself teaches us, saying: Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matt. 11:29). Learn not from angels, nor from men, but from Me, He says; that is, from the higher wisdom.

St. Nazarius of Valaam

Humility

Humility has such power that it inclines even the hard of heart. For God, the lover of humility, works through the humble.

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

Humility

We ought to learn the virtues through practicing them, not merely through talking about them, so that by acquiring the habit of them we do not forget what is of benefit to us.

St. Peter of Damascus

Humility

What joy is ours that the Lord not only forgives our sins but allows the soul to know Him, as soon as she humbles herself.

St. Silouan of the Holy Mountain

Humility

If therefore holy men, even when they do mighty things, think themselves worthless, what must be said of those who, without fruit of virtue, are yet swollen with pride? But any works, although they be good, are as nothing unless seasoned with humility. A great deed done boastfully, lowers rather than uplifts a man. He who would gather virtue without humility, carries dust in the wind; and where he seems to possess something, from the same is he blinded and made worse.

St. Gregory the Great

Humility

When we are incapable of scaling the peaks of virtue, all we have to do is to descend into the ravine of humility. Our humility is our surest intercessor before the face of the Lord.

St. Macarius of Optina

Tests

Knowing the exact nature of everything, God permits each person to be tested according to his strength. As St. Paul puts it: 'God is to be trusted not to let you be tried beyond your strength, but with the trial He will provide a way out, so that you are able to bear it' (1 Cor. 10:13).

St. Macarius the Great

Parish

Faith

Ministries

News

Calendar

Contact

It seems to me that, in all cases when indignity is offered to us, we should be silent; for it is our moment of profit.

If we are humble, God helps us to fight our sinfulness; if we are proud, He does not.

Love and humility form a holy pair; what the first builds, the second binds, thus preventing the building from falling asunder.

As with the appearance of light, darkness retreats; so, at the fragrance of humility, all anger and bitterness vanishes.

What salt is for any food, humility is for every virtue. To acquire it, a man must always think of himself with contrition, self-belittlement and painful salf-judgment. But if we acquire it, it will make us sons of God.

Humility, even without works, can save a man.

The Christian needs two wings in order to soar upward and attain Paradise: humility and love.

If the humbling of oneself before men is needful that one might be exalted before God, and temporal toil is the prerequisite of immortal life, what does it matter if some shake their heads and laugh at your self-abasement?

When you humble yourself, everyone will seem saintly to you; when you are proud, everyone will seem bothersome and bad.

Not one of us can boast of having acquired humility: our actions, the whole of our life, prove the contrary. And where there is a lack of humility, pride is always present. Where light is wanting, darkness reigns.

Humility has such power that it inclines even the hard of heart. For God, the lover of humility, works through the humble.

We ought to learn the virtues through practicing them, not merely through talking about them, so that by acquiring the habit of them we do not forget what is of benefit to us.

What joy is ours that the Lord not only forgives our sins but allows the soul to know Him, as soon as she humbles herself.

When we are incapable of scaling the peaks of virtue, all we have to do is to descend into the ravine of humility. Our humility is our surest intercessor before the face of the Lord.

Knowing the exact nature of everything, God permits each person to be tested according to his strength. As St. Paul puts it: 'God is to be trusted not to let you be tried beyond your strength, but with the trial He will provide a way out, so that you are able to bear it' (1 Cor. 10:13).

"Most of us call ourselves sinners, and perhaps really think it; but it is indignity that tests the heart."

St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent; Step 25

Join our Parish Mailing List