“
There are times when wisdom cannot be found in the chambers of parliament or the halls of academia but at the unpretentious setting of the kitchen table.
”
”
E.A. Bucchianeri
“
Learning isn't acquiring knowledge so much as it is trimming information that has already been acquired.
”
”
Criss Jami (Killosophy)
“
During the flames of controversy, opinions, mass disputes, conflict, and world news, sometimes the most precious, refreshing, peaceful words to hear amidst all the chaos are simply and humbly 'I don't know.
”
”
Criss Jami (Killosophy)
“
God’s revelation does not need the light of human genius, the polish and strength of human culture, the brilliancy of human thought, the force of human brains to adorn or enforce it; but it does demand the simplicity, the docility, humility, and faith of a child’s heart.
”
”
E.M. Bounds (Power Through Prayer)
“
He was too simple to wonder when he had attained humility. But he knew he had attained it and he knew it was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride.
”
”
Ernest Hemingway (The Old Man and the Sea)
“
To have humility is to experience reality, not in relation to ourselves, but in its sacred independence. It is to see, judge, and act from the point of rest in ourselves. Then, how much disappears, and all that remains falls into place.
In the point of rest at the center of our being, we encounter a world where all things are at rest in the same way. Then a tree becomes a mystery, a cloud a revelation, each man a cosmos of whose riches we can only catch glimpses. The life of simplicity is simple, but it opens to us a book in which we never get beyond the first syllable.
”
”
Dag Hammarskjöld (Markings)
“
Dependence, humility, simplicity, cooperation, and a sense of abandon are qualities greatly prized in the spiritual life, but extremely elusive for people who live in comfort.
”
”
Philip Yancey (The Jesus I Never Knew)
“
Simplicity is a bliss that makes one comprehend.
”
”
Criss Jami (Killosophy)
“
If you wish to draw profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never with the design of gaining a reputation for learning.
”
”
Thomas à Kempis (The Imitation of Christ)
“
[Tea-masters] have given emphasis to our natural love of simplicity, and shown us the beauty of humility. In fact, through their teachings tea has entered the life of the people.
”
”
Kakuzō Okakura (The Book of Tea)
“
An excess of simplicity, after all, was just another form of ostentation, and pride in one’s humility a sin.
”
”
Robert Harris (Conclave)
“
Simplicity and humility, not power or status, will bring you joy and happiness.
”
”
Debasish Mridha
“
There is a world of difference between being clever and being right.
”
”
Ian Driscoll
“
If you trust in Nature, in the small Things that hardly anyone sees and that can so suddenly become huge, immeasurable; if you have this love for what is humble and try very simply, as someone who serves, to win the confidence of what seems poor: then everything will become easier for you, more coherent and somehow more reconciling, not in your conscious mind perhaps, which stays behind, astonished, but in your innermost awareness, awakeness, and knowledge.
- Mitchell translation
”
”
Rainer Maria Rilke (Letters to a Young Poet)
“
let simplicity and humility be the characteristic traits of your soul. Go through life like a little child, always trusting, always full of simplicity and humility, content with everything, happy in every circumstance
”
”
Maria Faustyna Kowalska (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul)
“
silence, simplicity and humility . . . the only proper state for the artist as for the human being,
”
”
Patrick White (The Vivisector)
“
If all emotions are common coin, then what is unique to the good man?
To welcome with affection what is sent by fate. Not to stain or disturb the spirit within him with a mess of false beliefs. Instead, to preserve it faithfully, by calmly obeying God – saying nothing untrue, doing nothing unjust. And if the others don’t acknowledge it – this life lived in simplicity, humility, cheerfulness – he doesn’t resent them for it, and isn’t deterred from following the road where it leads: to the end of life. An end to be approached in purity, in serenity, in acceptance, in peaceful unity with what must be.
”
”
Marcus Aurelius (Meditations)
“
Have a heart which does not trample down simplicity and humility.
”
”
Angelica Hopes
“
Society judges people by their successes. I get attracted by their dedication, simplicity, and humility.
”
”
Debasish Mridha
“
What have I to prove, and to whom, and why? I'm keen enough to want nothing more than to live a simple, humble, unfettered life.
”
”
Donna Lynn Hope
“
Simplicity gives you the power of freedom.
Kindness gives you the power of boldness.
Humility gives you the power of acceptance.
”
”
Debasish Mridha
“
Prayer for revival will prevail when it is accompanied by radical amendment of life; not before. All-night prayer meetings that are not preceded by practical repentance may actually be displeasing to God. "To obey is better than sacrifice." We must return to New Testament Christianity, not in creed only but in complete manner of life as well. Separation, obedience, humility, simplicity, gravity, self-control, modesty, cross-bearing: these all must again be made a living part of the total Christian concept and be carried out in everyday conduct. We
”
”
A.W. Tozer (Keys to the Deeper Life)
“
In judging our progress as individual we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one's social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education. These are, of course, important in measuring one's success in material matters and it is perfectly understandable if many people exert themselves mainly to achieve all these. But internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one's development as a human being. Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others - qualites which are within reach of every soul - are the foundation of one's spiritual life.
”
”
Nelson Mandela (Conversations With Myself)
“
In humility be present, in simplicity live.
”
”
da Moose
“
The measure of greatness is in humility, simplicity, and in kindness.
”
”
Debasish Mridha
“
Simplicity is a form of humility, and simplicity is a sign of true greatness. Meekness is a sign of humility, and meekness is a sign of true strength.
”
”
Vince Lombardi (The Lombardi Rules: 26 Lessons from Vince Lombardi--The World's Greatest Coach (The McGraw-Hill Professional Education Series))
“
The beauty of wisdom lies in simplicity and humility.
”
”
Debasish Mridha
“
I feel, think and behave the same, whether I am talking to a president of a nation, a scholar, a janitor or a sex worker. I have nothing to hide and nothing to gain, hence I have no need for pretense.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (Revolution Indomable)
“
Justify my soul, O God, but also from Your fountains fill my will with fire. Shine in my mind, although perhaps this means “be darkness to my experience,” but occupy my heart with Your tremendous Life. Let my eyes see nothing in the world but Your glory, and let my hands touch nothing that is not for Your service. Let my tongue taste no bread that does not strengthen me to praise Your great mercy. I will hear Your voice and I will hear all harmonies You have created, singing Your hymns. Sheep’s wool and cotton from the field shall warm me enough that I may live in Your service; I will give the rest to Your poor. Let me use all things for one sole reason: to find my joy in giving You glory. Therefore keep me, above all things, from sin. Keep me from the death of deadly sin which puts hell in my soul. Keep me from the murder of lust that blinds and poisons my heart. Keep me from the sins that eat a man’s flesh with irresistible fire until he is devoured. Keep me from loving money in which is hatred, from avarice and ambition that suffocate my life. Keep me from the dead works of vanity and the thankless labor in which artists destroy themselves for pride and money and reputation, and saints are smothered under the avalanche of their own importunate zeal. Stanch in me the rank wound of covetousness and the hungers that exhaust my nature with their bleeding. Stamp out the serpent envy that stings love with poison and kills all joy. Untie my hands and deliver my heart from sloth. Set me free from the laziness that goes about disguised as activity when activity is not required of me, and from the cowardice that does what is not demanded, in order to escape sacrifice. But give me the strength that waits upon You in silence and peace. Give me humility in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride which is the heaviest of burdens. And possess my whole heart and soul with the simplicity of love. Occupy my whole life with the one thought and the one desire of love, that I may love not for the sake of merit, not for the sake of perfection, not for the sake of virtue, not for the sake of sanctity, but for You alone. For there is only one thing that can satisfy love and reward it, and that is You alone.
”
”
Thomas Merton (New Seeds of Contemplation)
“
Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.
And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.
Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain.
”
”
Douglas MacArthur
“
A contemplative is not one who takes his prayer seriously, but one who takes God seriously, who is famished for truth, who seeks to live in generous simplicity, in the spirit. An ardent and sincere humility is the best protection for his life of prayer.
”
”
Thomas Merton (Thomas Merton - Spiritual Direction and Meditation)
“
To be a servant of God means to have a great charity towards one's neighbour and an unshakable resolution to follow the divine will in all things, trusting in God with simplicity and humility, bearing with one's defects and patiently tolerating the imperfections of others.
”
”
Francis de Sales
“
The world calls for and expects from us simplicity of life, the spirit of prayer, charity towards all, especially towards the lowly and the poor, obedience and humility... Without this mark of holiness, our word will have difficulty in touching the heart of modern man. It risks being vain and sterile.
”
”
Pope Paul VI
“
So it is that the great man through his actions will not set out to harm others, nor make much of benevolence and charity; he does not make any move for gain, nor consider the servant at the gate as lowly; he will not barter for property and riches, nor does he make much of having turned them down; he asks for no one’s help, nor does he make much of his own self-reliance, nor despise the greedy and mean; he does not follow the crowd, nor does he make much of being so different; he comes behind the crowd, but does not make much of those who get ahead through flattery. The titles and honours of this world are of no interest to him, nor is he concerned at the disgrace of punishments. He knows there is no distinction between right and wrong, nor between great and little. I have heard it said, “The Tao man earns no reputation, perfect Virtue is not followed, the great man is self-less.” In perfection, this is the path he follows.
”
”
Zhuangzi (The Book of Chuang Tzu)
“
Size and elaboration were often mistaken for importance.
”
”
Stephen L. Carter (Back Channel)
“
Despite all our amazing ability, ingenuity, technology and industry humans are the one species who have not mastered the art of simplicity.
”
”
Rasheed Ogunlaru
“
Character Ethic as the foundation of success—things like integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty, and the Golden Rule.
”
”
Stephen R. Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change)
“
Real rest comes through humility.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (The Shape of A Human: Our America Their America)
“
Horses, boots and hats don't constitute country life, humility, simplicity and compassion do.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (Heart Force One: Need No Gun to Defend Society)
“
Mental toughness is many things. Its humility, as it behooves us all to remember that simplicity is the sign of greatness, and meekness is the sign of true strength” (Vince Lombardi)
”
”
Katherine Chambers (Mental Toughness: A Psychologist’s Guide to Becoming Psychologically Strong - Develop Resilience, Self-Discipline & Willpower on Demand (Psychology Self-Help Book 13))
“
I am not posing these questions only to the world at large. I query us who own Christ as our life. Can God be pleased by the vast and increasing inequities among us? Is he not grieved by our arrogant accumulation, while Christian brothers and sisters elsewhere languish and die? Is it not obligatory upon us to see beyond the nose of our own national interest, so that justice may roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream? Is there not an obligation upon us to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God is we want to live in his wonderful peace?
”
”
Richard J. Foster (Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World)
“
Body. Soul. Mind. Sensations: the body. Desires: the soul. Reasoning: the mind. To experience sensations: even grazing beasts do that. To let your desires control you: even wild animals do that—and rutting humans, and tyrants (from Phalaris to Nero . . .). To make your mind your guide to what seems best: even people who deny the gods do that. Even people who betray their country. Even people who do <. . .> behind closed doors. If all the rest is common coin, then what is unique to the good man? To welcome with affection what is sent by fate. Not to stain or disturb the spirit within him with a mess of false beliefs. Instead, to preserve it faithfully, by calmly obeying God—saying nothing untrue, doing nothing unjust. And if the others don’t acknowledge it—this life lived with simplicity, humility, cheerfulness—he doesn’t resent them for it, and isn’t deterred from following the road where it leads: to the end of life. An end to be approached in purity, in serenity, in acceptance, in peaceful unity with what must be.
”
”
Marcus Aurelius (Meditations)
“
ten signs of humility: giving up control, vulnerability, willingness to change, obedience, patience, simplicity or detachment, a nonjudgmental attitude toward others, self-control, gentleness, and compassion for others.113
”
”
Gerry Ken Crete (Litanies of the Heart)
“
There are moments in our lives - eras in our lives - when self-care demands more. When you're actually suffering an enormous loss or reeling, the best thing you can do is step outside of the pressure cookers of your life. One of the things I did in my own life when I found myself at that kind of bottom moment is I said, "I have got to do something that's going to remind me of my strength. I've got to do something that's going to bring me back to clarity, simplicity, humility, and strength." And so I went and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. Remember that the only thing that's important is your well-being, your sense of "okay-ness" in the world. So go and get that.
”
”
Cheryl Strayed
“
God's response to your situation or problem will mock and insult your knowledge, wisdom, status-quo and poor character because of its simplicity. Solutions , breakthroughs and answers from God Almighty will always require your humility.
”
”
Njabulo Chriswell Sithole
“
This is a natural response that combines three competing impulses: 1) our contempt for simplicity (only complexity is worthy of our attention); 2) our contempt for instruction and follow-up; and 3) our faith, however unfounded, that we can succeed all by ourselves. In combination these three trigger an unappealing exceptionalism in us. When we presume that we are better than people who need structure and guidance, we lack one of the most crucial ingredients for change: humility.
”
”
Marshall Goldsmith (Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts--Becoming the Person You Want to Be)
“
Images surround us; cavorting broadcast in the minds of others, we wear the motley tailored by their bad digestions, the shame and failure, plague pandemics and private indecencies, unpaid bills, and animal ecstasies remembered in hospital beds, our worst deeds and best intentions will not stay still, scolding, mocking, or merely chattering they assail each other, shocked at recognition. Sometimes simplicity serves, though even the static image of Saint John Baptist received prenatal attentions (six months along, leaping for joy in his mother's womb when she met Mary who had conceived the day before): once delivered he stands steady in a camel's hair loincloth at a ford in the river, morose, ascetic on locusts and honey, molesting passers-by, upbraiding the flesh on those who wear it with pleasure. And the Nazarene whom he baptized? Three years pass, in a humility past understanding: and then death, disappointed? unsuspecting? and the body left on earth, the one which was to rule the twelve tribes of Israel, and on earth, left crying out - My God, why dost thou shame me? Hopelessly ascendent in resurrection, the image is pegged on the wind by an epileptic tentmaker, his strong hands stretch the canvas of faith into a gaudy caravanserai, shelter for travelers wearied of the burning sand, lured by forgetfulness striped crimson and gold, triple-tiered, visible from afar, redolent of the east, and level and wide the sun crashes the fist of reality into that desert where the truth still walks barefoot.
”
”
William Gaddis (The Recognitions)
“
This is without subtlety,” he said, as if to himself. His voice was cool and pleasant. His every move was part of a dance, a dance that never ended, even when his body was still, at rest, but for all the power it suggested, there was also a humility, an open simplicity.
”
”
William Gibson (Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1))
“
Make me the father, O Lord, who will show my sons enough of a sense of humor, so that they will always be serious, but never take themselves too seriously. Give them humility, so they will always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.
”
”
Thom S. Rainer
“
We must return to New Testament Christianity, not in creed only but in complete manner of life as well. Separation, obedience, humility, simplicity, gravity, self-control, modesty, cross-bearing: these all must again be made a living part of the total Christian concept and be carried out in everyday conduct.
”
”
A.W. Tozer (Keys to the Deeper Life)
“
Дорожкою простонародною,
Смиренною, богоугодною,
Идём — свободные, немодные,
Душой и телом — благородные.
Сбылися древние пророчества:
Где вы — Величества? Высочества?
Мать с дочерью идём — две странницы.
Чернь чёрная навстречу чванится.
Быть может — вздох от нас останется,
А может — Бог на нас оглянется…
Пусть будет — как Ему захочется:
Мы не Величества, Высочества.
Так, скромные, богоугодные,
Душой и телом — благородные,
Дорожкою простонародною —
Так, доченька, к себе на родину:
В страну Мечты и Одиночества —
Где мы — Величества, Высочества.
1919
The path of plain folk, of simplicity,
we tread, God-fearing, with humility -
outmoded garb, we guard our liberty,
in mind and body - pure nobility.
Thus spake the prophets, of proud dynasties:
Where are ye - Majesties? and Highnesses?
So, mother, daughter - two lone wanderers.
The churlish mob surge, chiding, on at us.
Maybe - some breath will yet remain of us,
And maybe - God look back again on us...
His will be done, the Lord of Righteousness:
we are no Majesties, no Highnesses.
Let us, God-fearing, with humility,
In mind and body - pure nobility,
turn homeward, daughter - tread submissively
the path of plain folk, of simplicity:
Back to the land of Dreams and Loneliness -
where we - are Majesties, and Highnesses.
”
”
Marina Tsvetaeva (The Demesne of the Swans)
“
Love is Simple (The Sonnet)
Truth is simple,
Lies are complex.
Light is simple,
Darkness is complex.
Honesty is simple,
Deceit is complex.
Humility is simple,
Arrogance is complex.
Curiosity is simple,
Conspiracy is complex.
Acceptance is simple,
Discrimination is complex.
Peace is simple, war is complex.
Love is simple, hate is complex.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (Either Reformist or Terrorist: If You Are Terror I Am Your Grandfather)
“
She merely desires to be taken at her own valuation and to be addressed universally as “Mother Teresa.” Her success is not, therefore, a triumph of humility and simplicity. It is another chapter in a millennial story which stretches back to the superstitious childhood of our species, and which depends on the exploitation of the simple and the humble by the cunning and the single-minded.
”
”
Christopher Hitchens (The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice)
“
Furthermore, both understood that all creatures with high cognitive ability, to one degree or another, were often fools and should embrace their foolishness rather than deny it. That understanding ensured humility. Humility was the foundation for all lasting achievements. By this telepathy, two lives, in their intricate simplicities of facts and emotions, flowed as freely as information from a computer onto a flash drive, but with more profound effect than a mere transfer of data.
”
”
Dean Koontz (Devoted)
“
Those who are arrogant about their pedigree, about their culture, about their intellect, I have no business with them, give me the humble janitor, give me the illiterate construction worker, give me the dropout waitress - the humble soul will find me in their own heart, but the arrogant will argue their whole life and never understand what I am all about, what humanity is all about - it's about community, it's about listening, it's about letting go of one's self-obsessed identity to become one with humanity.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (The Shape of A Human: Our America Their America)
“
If all the rest is common coin, then what is unique to the good man? To welcome with affection what is sent by fate. Not to stain or disturb the spirit within him with a mess of false beliefs. Instead, to preserve it faithfully, by calmly obeying God—saying nothing untrue, doing nothing unjust. And if the others don’t acknowledge it—this life lived with simplicity, humility, cheerfulness—he doesn’t resent them for it, and isn’t deterred from following the road where it leads: to the end of life. An end to be approached in purity, in serenity, in acceptance, in peaceful unity with what must be.
”
”
Marcus Aurelius (Meditations)
“
Our lives are also measured in three dimensions: Spirit, mind, and body. However, the greatest of these is Spirit, because to refuse the Spirit is to choose death. “For example, the body of a man may be shackled and jailed. Still, his Spirit praises God continuously. Another one may be materially rich and free, but his oppressed Spirit curses his miserable existence. A child’s mind may be humble, but glorious in love and faith, while a genius may be too proud to appreciate the humility and simplicity that fruitful faith requires. And regarding the body, even beautiful people are oftentimes unhappy and unfulfilled. It is the Spirit of Love that fulfills us.
”
”
Kenneth E. Nowell (The Rise (Trials and Triumph, #1))
“
Sonnet of Enlightenment
World is born when individual is born.
Individual is born when collectivity is realized.
Collectivity is realized when selfishness is erased.
Selfishness is erased when love is universalized.
Love is universalized when separation is destroyed.
Separation is destroyed when superstition is crushed.
Superstition is crushed when reason is nourished.
Reason is nourished when correction is desired.
Correction is desired when ignorance is recognized.
Ignorance is recognized when arrogance is abolished.
Arrogance is abolished when humility is fostered.
Humility is fostered when simplicity is habit.
Simplicity is habit when awareness awakens.
Awareness awakens when expansion awakens.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (Giants in Jeans: 100 Sonnets of United Earth)
“
The best antidote to the furtive poison of anger, fear, anxiety, or any of our destructive, unwieldy passions, is just gratitude. And not the grandiose, boisterous or especially obvious kind. It is not necessarily the verbose or expressive kind. It's often the full immersion, a kind of deep submersion even, into a pool of awareness. This penitent affect distills within us surreal realizations; it is a focus, tinged with layers of deep remorse and the profound beauty of newfound appreciation that washes over us about the simplest things we have slipped into, or suddenly become aware of our own complacency over. This cooling antidote instantly soothes any veins swollen with the heat of pride, or stopped up with pearls of finely polished self-pity. This all comes about with a balm of humility that is simultaneously soothing and jolting to all of our senses at the same time. It is a cocktail both sedative and stimulant in the same, finite instant. It often occurs as we are halted dead in our tracks by a thing so extraordinary and breathtakingly natural, even luscious in its simplicity and unusually ordinary existence; often something we have been blatantly negligent of noticing as we routinely trudge past it in our self-absorbed haze. These are akin to the emotions one might feel as they finally notice the well-established antique rose garden, in full bloom; the same one they have walked by for years on their way to somewhere - but never noticed before. This is the feeling we get when our aging parent suddenly, in one moment, is 87 in our mind's eye - and not the steady 57, or eternal 37 we have determinedly seen our so loved one to be, out of purely wishful thinking born of the denial that only the truest love and devotion can begin to nurture - for the better of many decades.
”
”
Connie Kerbs (Paths of Fear: An Anthology of Overcoming Through Courage, Inspiration, and the Miracle of Love (Pebbled Lane Books Book 1))
“
Agnes Bojaxhiu knows perfectly well that she is conscripted by people like Ralph Reed, that she is a fund-raising icon for clerical nationalists in the Balkans, that she has furnished PR-type cover for all manner of cultists and shady businessmen (who are often the same thing), that her face is on vast highway billboards urging the state to take on the responsibility of safeguarding the womb. By no word or gesture has she ever repudiated any of these connections or alliances. Nor has she ever deigned to respond to questions about her friendship with despots. She merely desires to be taken at her own valuation and to be addressed universally as ‘Mother Teresa’. Her success is not, therefore, a triumph of humility and simplicity. It is another chapter in a millennial story which stretches back to the superstitious childhood of our species, and which depends on the exploitation of the simple and the humble by the cunning and the single-minded.
”
”
Christopher Hitchens (The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice)
“
16. Body. Soul. Mind. Sensations: the body. Desires: the soul. Reasoning: the mind. To experience sensations: even grazing beasts do that. To let your desires control you: even wild animals do that—and rutting humans, and tyrants (from Phalaris to Nero …). To make your mind your guide to what seems best: even people who deny the gods do that. Even people who betray their country. Even people who do <…> behind closed doors. If all the rest is common coin, then what is unique to the good man? To welcome with affection what is sent by fate. Not to stain or disturb the spirit within him with a mess of false beliefs. Instead, to preserve it faithfully, by calmly obeying God—saying nothing untrue, doing nothing unjust. And if the others don’t acknowledge it—this life lived with simplicity, humility, cheerfulness—he doesn’t resent them for it, and isn’t deterred from following the road where it leads: to the end of life. An end to be approached in purity, in serenity, in acceptance, in peaceful unity with what must be.
”
”
Marcus Aurelius (Meditations)
“
Images surround us; cavorting broadcast in the minds of others, we wear the motley tailored by their bad digestions, the shame and failure, plague pandemics and private indecencies, unpaid bills, and animal ecstasies remembered in hospital beds, our worst deeds and best intentions will not stay still, scolding, mocking, or merely chattering they assail each other, shocked at recognition. Sometimes simplicity serves, though even the static image of Saint John Baptist received prenatal attentions (six months along, leaping for joy in his mother's womb when she met Mary who had conceived the day before): once delivered he stands steady in a camel's hair loincloth at a ford in the river, morose, ascetic on locusts and honey, molesting passers-by, upbraiding the flesh on those who wear it with pleasure. And the Nazarene whom he baptized? Three years pass, in a humility past understanding: and then death, disappointed? unsuspecting? and the body left on earth, the one which was to rule the twelve tribes of Israel, and on earth, left crying out—My God, why dost thou shame me? Hopelessly ascendant in resurrection, the image is pegged on the wind by an epileptic tentmaker, his strong hands stretch the canvas of faith into a gaudy caravanserai, shelter for travelers wearied of the burning sand, lured by forgetfulness striped crimson and gold, triple-tiered, visible from afar, redolent of the east, and level and wide the sun crashes the fist of reality into that desert where the truth still walks barefoot.
”
”
William Gaddis (The Recognitions)
“
Written by the great general Douglas MacArthur about his own son, the words are eloquent and touching. Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak; and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee—and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail. Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past. And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom and the meekness of true strength. Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.
”
”
Franklin Graham (Through My Father's Eyes)
“
Meanwhile, the constant pressure of Islam was becoming an increasing danger for Europe, and Hungary was in the forefront of the fight; yet this did not awaken the Catholic countries to see the folly of destroying a barrier between them and their most dangerous foe, and the Pope wrote (1325) to the Ban of Bosnia: “Knowing that thou art a faithful son of the Church, we therefore charge thee to exterminate the heretics in thy dominions, and to render aid and assistance unto Fabian, our Inquisitor, forasmuch as a large multitude of heretics from many and divers parts collected, have flowed together into the Principality of Bosnia, trusting there to sow their obscene errors and to dwell there in safety. These men, imbued with the cunning of the Old Fiend, and armed with the venom of their falseness, corrupt the minds of Catholics by outward show of simplicity and lying assumption of the name of Christians; their speech crawleth like a crab, and they creep in with humility, but in secret they kill, and are wolves in sheep’s clothing, covering their bestial fury as a means whereby they may deceive the simple sheep of Christ.
”
”
E.H. Broadbent (The Pilgrim Church: Being Some Account of the Continuance Through Succeeding Centuries of Churches Practising the Principles Taught and Exemplified in The New Testament)
“
But give me the strength that waits upon You in silence and peace. Give me humility in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride which is the heaviest of burdens. And possess my whole heart and soul with the simplicity of love. Occupy my whole life with the one thought and the one desire of love, that I may love not for the sake of merit, not for the sake of perfection, not for the sake of virtue, not for the sake of sanctity, but for You alone. For there is only one thing that can satisfy love and reward it, and that is You alone.
”
”
Thomas Merton (New Seeds of Contemplation)
“
It is necessary to seek simplicity in complexity, as it is to seek humility in the abundant possibility.
”
”
Alan Maiccon
“
In stark contrast, almost all the literature in the first 150 years or so focused on what could be called the Character Ethic as the foundation of success—things like integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty, and the Golden Rule.
”
”
Stephen R. Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)
“
Health and Sickness (The Sonnet)
Health doesn't always come from pills,
Health comes through being mindful.
Pills just help bring down the barriers,
That clutter the body with deadly ghoul.
Wellness is not the absence of sickness,
It's the capacity to overcome sickness.
Some sickness are the norm of nature,
Others are products of our own foolishness.
The opposite of sickness is not its absence,
The opposite of sickness is its awareness.
To treat sickness we must first acknowledge it,
Sickness acknowledged is sickness half treated.
In the end, health favors those who favor humility.
Sustainability favors those who favor simplicity.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (Find A Cause Outside Yourself: Sermon of Sustainability)
“
It is in the depths of the heart that the true intensity of the Christian life lies, it is there that God dwells, adored and served by faith, recollection, humility, obedience, simplicity, labour, and love.
”
”
Columba Marmion (With Christ: An Anthology of the Writings of Blessed Columba Marmion)
“
Untie my hands and deliver my heart from sloth. Set me free from the laziness that goes about disguised as activity when activity is not required of me, and from the cowardice that does what is not demanded, in order to escape sacrifice. But give me the strength that waits upon You in silence and peace. Give me humility in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride which is the heaviest of burdens. And possess my whole heart and soul with the simplicity of love. Occupy my whole life with the one thought and the one desire of love, that I may love not for the sake of merit, not for the sake of perfection, not for the sake of virtue, not for the sake of sanctity, but for You alone. For there is only one thing that can satisfy love and reward it, and that is You alone.
”
”
Thomas Merton (New Seeds of Contemplation)
“
When you are humble and simple, the entire world knocks on your door to bask in your light. But when you are too full of yourself, one after another you'll keep losing life's most priceless treasures - those that really matter.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (Insan Himalayanoğlu: It's Time to Defect)
“
Simplicity is not Humility.
”
”
Sahndra Fon Dufe
“
Sister, let simplicity and humility be the characteristic traits of your soul. Go through life like a little child, always trusting, always full of simplicity and humility, content with everything, happy in every circumstance. There, where others fear, you will pass calmly along, thanks to this simplicity and humility. Remember this, Sister, for your whole life: as waters flow from the mountains down into the valleys, so, too, do God’s graces flow only into humble souls.
”
”
Maria Faustyna Kowalska (Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul (Illustrated))
“
Windbags make all the noise, beings with character stay inane.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (Ingan Impossible: Handbook of Hatebusting)
“
Jesus, conqueror of this world, Help me overcome this world of pride And live in humility. Help me overcome this world of pleasure And find joy in Your presence. Help me overcome this world of greed And live in simplicity. Help me overcome this world of achieving And live in obedience. Help me overcome this world of fear And live in peace. Help me overcome this world of selfishness And give up my rights. Help me overcome this world of darkness And live in pure light. Help me overcome this world of hate And deeply, daily love people. Help me overcome a world of anger And live in kindness. Help me overcome this world of gossip And rest in silence. Help me overcome a lazy world And live with discipline. Help me overcome a world that has forgotten You And live in daily gratefulness. You conquered all temptation and live in me. Rise up, my God. Be strong in my heart and overcome, For the greatest challenge I will face Lies in my own deceitful desires. To help me overcome this world, please destroy my desire for it. I want to be single of heart, only longing for You, My Christ, my captain. —Ryan Skoog
”
”
Ryan Skoog (Lead with Prayer: The Spiritual Habits of World-Changing Leaders)
“
A devout widow should chiefly seek to cultivate the graces of perfect modesty, renouncing all honours, rank, title, society, and the like vanities; she should be diligent in ministering to the poor and sick, comforting the afflicted, leading the young to a life of devotion, studying herself to be a perfect model of virtue to younger women. Necessity and simplicity should be the adornment of her garb, humility and charity of her actions, simplicity and kindliness of her words, modesty and purity of her eyes,--Jesus Christ Crucified the only Love of her heart.
”
”
Francis de Sales (Introduction to the Devout Life)
“
Simplicity is the beauty of life.
”
”
Lailah Gifty Akita (Think Great: Be Great! (Beautiful Quotes, #1))
“
Children live their lives with simplicity, not having acquired the mindset of harming others to gain some level of self-imposed success. A child—whether seven or seventy—is that person who still has a trusting heart, who is still dependent upon the Father and who has not lost the God-given gift of humility.
”
”
Ronnie McBrayer (How Far Is Heaven?: Rediscovering the Kingdom of God in the Here and Now)
“
Our life is to be bound up with the life of Christ; we are to draw constantly from Him, partaking of Him, the living Bread that came down from heaven, drawing from a fountain ever fresh, ever giving forth its abundant treasures. If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. When this {130} is in truth the experience of the Christian, there is seen in his life a simplicity, a humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart, that show to all with whom he associates that he has been with Jesus and learned of Him.
”
”
Ellen Gould White (Christ's Object Lessons—Illustrated (Heritage Edition Book 8))
“
Simplicity and humility are the flowers of greatness.
”
”
Debasish Mridha
“
If you go against growth, you go against yourself. How ready are we to face, accept and deal with the situations that comes to us unexpectedly in our partners. It takes a big heart to face situations but above all it takes simplicity, humility and self denial to show true love and care.
”
”
William Pious Akakpo
“
Love does not envy, does not boast, does not delight in evil but rejoice in truth.
”
”
Lailah Gifty Akita (Pearls of Wisdom: Great mind)
“
God’s revelation does not need the light of human genius, the polish and strength of human culture, the brilliancy of human thought, the force of human brains to adorn or enforce it; but it does demand the simplicity, the docility, humility, and faith of a child’s heart. It
”
”
E.M. Bounds (The Complete Collection of E.M Bounds on Prayer)
“
However, we must also face up to the likelihood that this will not be the last occasion on which a Peace Prize Laureate is unable to attend. Let that remind us that in a world such as ours, peace and reconciliation cannot be achieved once and for all. We will never be able to lower our standards. On the contrary, a better world demands even greater vigilance of us, still greater fearlessness and the ability to develop in ourselves the ‘profound simplicity’ of which this year’s Laureate has spoken. This applies to all of us as individuals but must apply especially to those in positions of power and authority. Show humility and show fearlessness – like Aung San Suu Kyi. The result may be a better world to live in.
”
”
Suu Kyi, Aung San (Freedom from Fear: And Other Writings)
“
Many search for God in dramatic events, but he is more often veiled in simplicity and humility.
”
”
Kristelle Angelli (Agnes' Gift: A heartwarming story about the power of the Rosary)
“
The path of the heart is not about controlling or changing your mind. It is about cultivating a willingness to let go of false identification and returning to the simplicity and humility of empty-headedness and not knowing.
”
”
Christine Samuel
“
We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather, we must be simple, humble and pure.
― Francis of Assisi
Everyone should be wise but with simplicity, prudent but with humility, and dignified but with purity.
― Ehsan Sehgal
”
”
Ehsan Sehgal
“
Everyone should be wise but with simplicity, prudent but with humility, and dignified but with purity.
”
”
Ehsan Sehgal
“
Be humble, be simple and focus on your work, not on your appearance.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (Martyr Meets World: To Solve The Hard Problem of Inhumanity)
“
literature in the first 150 years or so focused on what could be called the Character Ethic as the foundation of success—things like integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty, and the Golden Rule.
”
”
Stephen R. Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Revised and Updated: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change)
“
...In actuality, the life is a dream, you dream.
”
”
Farooq A. Shiekh
“
Wipe Out The I (The Sonnet)
Once a person gives up all for others,
They'll achieve everything worth achieving.
The art of self-discovery is in self-annihilation,
Whereas self-obsession only causes suffering.
Once a person is insane with the sacrificial spirit,
They'll know the meaning of civilized sanity.
Once a person feels the joy of selflessness,
All worldly pleasures will turn into foul vanity.
Once a person hones the power of simplicity,
They'll trash all trace of pomposity from life.
Once a person senses the valor of humility,
They'll discard all arrogant divide.
Life is simple, but we mess it up with selfishness.
Wipe out the I, and you will taste its sweetness.
”
”
Abhijit Naskar (Şehit Sevda Society: Even in Death I Shall Live)
“
The little stories of love, kindness, peace, hope, and dreams are more important than the mega stories of money, fame, victory, and revenge.
”
”
Bhuwan Thapaliya
“
A person who is characterized by humility, simplicity, unpretentiousness, brotherly feelings, love and who works for the good of others, one who is in constant remembrance of God are examples of a person of good character.
”
”
Anirudh Agrawal (The Science of Spiritual Enlightenment: A Book for Eternity)
“
True leadership is embodied in humility and simplicity, for it is in being humble and genuine that a leader earns respect and inspires greatness in others.
”
”
Enamul Haque
“
Gratitude enhances humility and amplifies simplicity..
”
”
Gagandeep Kaushal
“
[Adam] Michnik's openness to dialogue was neither a concession of defeat nor an expression of political opportunism on his part. It had its roots in a few fundamental beliefs that he never surrendered during his long public career and which have defined his political moderation to this day. The first one, connected to his modesty and humility, admits that we must always resist the temptation to believe in the righteousness of our views and ought to hold in check any form of moral egotism and arrogance that might creep in our views, however legitimate they might (appear to) be at some point. 'The angel who demands heroism not only of himself but of others,' Michnik cautioned, 'who perceives the world with a Manichaean simplicity and despises those who have a different concept of obligations toward others - this angel, loving heaven as he may, has already started on the path that leads to hell.' He was repeating an old favorite trope of Pascal, who warned us that those who pretend to behave like angels risk becoming fanatic beasts in the end.
”
”
Aurelian Craiutu (Faces of Moderation: The Art of Balance in an Age of Extremes (Haney Foundation Series))
“
Dheeraj explained to me that when leaders don’t have the skills to lean into vulnerability, they’re not able to successfully hold the tension of the paradoxes that are inherent in entrepreneurship. His examples of the paradoxes that elicit vulnerability in leaders align with what we heard from the research participants:
Optimism and paranoia
Letting chaos reign (the act of building) and reining in chaos (the act of scaling)
Big heart and tough decision making
Humility and fierce resolve
Velocity and quality when building new things
Left brain and right brain
Simplicity and choice
Thinking global, acting local
Ambition and attention to detail
Thinking big but starting small
Short-term and long-term
Marathons and sprints, or marathon of sprints in business-building
Dheeraj told me, “Leaders must learn the skills to hold these tensions and get adept at “balancing on the ‘tightrope’ of life. Ultimately, leadership is the ability to thrive in the ambiguity of paradoxes and opposites
”
”
Brené Brown (Dare to Lead)
“
God's revelation does not need the light of human genius, the polish and strength of human culture, the brilliancy of human thought, the force of human brains to adorn or enforce it; but it does demand the simplicity, the docility, humility, and faith of a child's heart.
”
”
E.M. Bounds (Power Through Prayer)
“
Learning is a feeling between humility and simplicity.
”
”
Alan Maiccon