Page 4 - Revista Paisiana Nr 12 Februarie 2025

The Holy Fathers on Humility

Selected Quotes

“...true humility does not say humble words, “...we have never achieved anything good on
nor does it assume humble looks, it does not force our own, but all good things are ours from God by
oneself either to think humbly of oneself, or to abuse grace, and come as it were from nothingness into
oneself in self-belittlement. Although all such things being. For ‘what do you have which you did not re-
are the beginning, the manifestations and the various ceive?’ asks St. Paul - receive, that is, freely from God;
aspects of humility, humility itself is grace, given from ‘and if you received it, why do you boast as if you had
above. There are two kinds of humility, as the holy fat- not received it’ (I Cor. 4:7), but had achieved it by your-
hers teach: to deem oneself the lowest of all beings self? Yet by yourself you cannot achieve anything, for
and to ascribe to God all one’s good actions. The first the Lord has said: ‘Without Me, you can do nothing’
is the beginning, the second the end.” (John 15:5).”
St. Gregory of Sinai St. Peter of Damascus

“Extirpate two thoughts within thyself: do not
consider thyself worthy of anything great, and
do not think that any other man is much lower
than thou in worthiness. Learn humbleminded-
ness beforehand, which the Lord commanded
in word and showed forth in deed. Hence, do
not expect obedience from others, but be ready
for obedience thyself.”
St. Basil the Great

“A person who suffers bitterly when slighted
or insulted should recognize from this that he
still harbors the ancient serpent in his breast. If
he quietly endures the insult or responds with
great humility, he weakens the serpent and les-
sens its hold. But if he replies acrimoniously or
brazenly, he gives it strength to pour its venom
into his heart and to feed mercilessly on his guts.
In this way the serpent becomes increasingly po-
werful; it destroys his soul’s strength and his at-
tempts to set himself right, compelling him to
live for sin and to be completely dead to ri-
ghteousness.”
St. Symeon the New Theologian

4 sursa informațiilor și ilustrația articolului: PAISIANA nr. 2 / februarie / 2025
https://orthodoxwiki.org