humility quotes from influential philosophers, authors and people
"If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, 'He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.'"
43
"With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy."
76
"The only true wisdom is knowing that you know nothing."
304
"The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death."
325
"There appears to be a conscience in mankind which severely punishes the man who does not somehow and at some time, at whatever cost to his pride, cease to defend and assert himself, and instead confess himself fallible and human."
353
"The wise man is one who, knows, what he does not know."
510
"I believe in intuitions and inspirations… I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know that I am."
611
"Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one."
733
"For I found myself embarrassed with so many doubts and errors that it seemed to me that the effort to instruct myself had no effect other than the increasing discovery of my own ignorance."
924
"It doesn’t matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn’t matter how smart you are. If it doesn’t agree with experiment, it’s wrong."
1180
"As usual, nature’s imagination far surpasses our own, as we have seen from the other theories which are subtle and deep."
1188
"I’m smart enough to know that I’m dumb."
1189
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts."
1191
"Truth is a process not a final destination. The former requires humility and curiosity. The latter dogmatic certainty. There’s always more nuance and wisdom to discover, through empathy and reason."
285