--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To learn true humility, we need more than…" description: "\"To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition of greatness; we need even more than Jesus' personal example of humble service. What we need i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/c-j-mahaney-18178_example_to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than_364291.jpg" --- # To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition… ![“To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition of greatness; we need even more than Jesus' personal example of humble service. What we need is His death.” quote by C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/c-j-mahaney-18178_example_to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than_364291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/c-j-mahaney-18178_example_to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than_364291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/c-j-mahaney-18178_example_to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than_364291.jpg) > “To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition of greatness; we need even more than Jesus' personal example of humble service. What we need is His death.” [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True humility requires more than redefining greatness; it demands embracing Christ’s sacrificial death as the ultimate example of humble service. **In simple terms:** Humility needs Christ’s death, not just his life example. Key Takeaway Embrace the cross as the model of humility. Themes humility service spirituality Mood contemplative reverent Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - church teaching - ethical decision making Key Concepts sacrificial love Christocentric humility Questions to Reflect On - How does Christ’s death reshape your understanding of humility? - What personal sacrifices can you make today? A Different Perspective Relying solely on personal example may ignore the depth of sacrificial love. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [True humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-humility/) ## Related quotes > [He set the example for all of us to humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/he-set-the-example-for-all-of-us-to-humble-ourselves-before-our/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [Let me follow in Thy footsteps, O Jesus ! I would imitate Thee, but cannot without the aid of Thy grace! O humble and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/let-me-follow-in-thy-footsteps-o-jesus-i-would-imitate-thee-but/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [“have humility so you can get what you need from others!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/have-humility-so-you-can-get-what-you-need-from-others/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“The challenges they had faced together had taught them humility—the need to subsume their individual egos for the sake of the boat as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-james-brown/the-challenges-they-had-faced-together-had-taught-them-humility-the/) [Daniel James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-james-brown/) > [Suffer me never to think that I have knowledge enough to need no teaching, wisdom enough to need no correction, talents enough to need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-milner-white/suffer-me-never-to-think-that-i-have-knowledge-enough-to-need-no/) Eric Milner-White > [“The most degrading cross has always produced the greatest glory and force, as long as the humility of the martyrdom is sincere. But do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-most-degrading-cross-has-always-produced-the-greatest-glory-and/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [sooner or later the universe usually provides lessons of humility to those who need it the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-carter-scott/sooner-or-later-the-universe-usually-provides-lessons-of-humility-to/) [Cherie Carter-Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-carter-scott/) > [“The first step to having humility you need to accept something in order to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-first-step-to-having-humility-you-need-to-accept-something-in/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Some instances in life call for humility. But, sometimes you need to be flat-out brazen when it comes to the desires of your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nakia-r-laushaul/some-instances-in-life-call-for-humility-but-sometimes-you-need-to-be/) [Nakia R. Laushaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nakia-r-laushaul/) > [Oh, Brethren, what is the result of pride? Oh, see what humility can do? What was the need for all these sufferings? For, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorotheus-of-gaza/oh-brethren-what-is-the-result-of-pride-oh-see-what-humility-can-do/) [Dorotheus of Gaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorotheus-of-gaza/) > [The importance of humility. We need the humility to know that truth can be ephemeral, that this can be but one version of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-auletta/the-importance-of-humility-we-need-the-humility-to-know-that-truth/) [Ken Auletta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-auletta/) > [Humility is our need in the times of our mistake.You say sorry for what you have done.forget your pride,it doesn't matter about thinking others.do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianette-carbito/humility-is-our-need-in-the-times-of-our-mistake-you-say-sorry-for/) [Marianette Carbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianette-carbito/) > [Self-centeredness brings misery,A proud heart bring much pain; But those with true humility Have lasting peace to gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/self-centeredness-brings-misery-a-proud-heart-bring-much-pain-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“True humility is fearless honesty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/true-humility-is-fearless-honesty/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by C. J. Mahaney > [If there's anything in life that we should be passionate about, it's the gospel. And I don't mean passionate only about sharing it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/if-there-s-anything-in-life-that-we-should-be-passionate-about-it-s/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [What joy the gospel gives me! I can approach the throne of God with confidence-not because I've done a good job at my spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/what-joy-the-gospel-gives-me-i-can-approach-the-throne-of-god-with/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [So make it your aim and lifelong habit, when you see someone who's serving, to be reminded of the sacrifice of the Savior, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/so-make-it-your-aim-and-lifelong-habit-when-you-see-someone-who-s/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [All gifts from God are intended to direct our attention to God and create fresh affection for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/all-gifts-from-god-are-intended-to-direct-our-attention-to-god-and/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Apart from the cross, condemnation is normal. Without Jesus, we all deserve to be condemned and punished for sin. But here's the good news:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/apart-from-the-cross-condemnation-is-normal-without-jesus-we-all/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Pastoral ministry is about an ongoing confrontation with the god of this world, with blindness, hardness of heart, remaining sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/pastoral-ministry-is-about-an-ongoing-confrontation-with-the-god-of/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Pride takes innumerable forms but has only one end: self-glorification. That’s the motive and ultimate purpose of pride—to rob God of legitimate glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/pride-takes-innumerable-forms-but-has-only-one-end-self-glorification/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [It is true that I have been studying both humility and pride for many years for the purpose of weakening pride in my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/it-is-true-that-i-have-been-studying-both-humility-and-pride-for-many/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Modesty is humility expressed in dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/modesty-is-humility-expressed-in-dress/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [We cannot free ourselves from pride and selfish ambition; a divine rescue is absolutely necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/we-cannot-free-ourselves-from-pride-and-selfish-ambition-a-divine/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [No matter the severity of suffering we experience in this life, it will always be less that what we have deserved for our sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/no-matter-the-severity-of-suffering-we-experience-in-this-life-it/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Endurance in ministry is rooted in the eternal perspective. The absence of an eternal perspective makes you vulnerable to losing heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/endurance-in-ministry-is-rooted-in-the-eternal-perspective-the/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Your greatest need is not a spouse. Your greatest need is to be delivered from the wrath of God - and that has already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/your-greatest-need-is-not-a-spouse-your-greatest-need-is-to-be/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [If you crossed Matthew Henry's path, you would quickly realize that here was someone taking thankful notice of all God was doing for him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/if-you-crossed-matthew-henry-s-path-you-would-quickly-realize-that/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [As we mature personally, as our families mature, and as our churches mature, we need the doctrine of sin more, not less; and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/as-we-mature-personally-as-our-families-mature-and-as-our-churches/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) [Explore all 35 C. J. Mahaney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) ## More Example quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [You can have examples of reasons to hate people, but if you analyze those reasons it's like, Oh, I'm hating that person based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlyne-yi/you-can-have-examples-of-reasons-to-hate-people-but-if-you-analyze/) [Charlyne Yi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlyne-yi/) > [The protestant world is in great need of examples (like these) that will beckon us to the fullness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bickle/the-protestant-world-is-in-great-need-of-examples-like-these-that/) [Mike Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bickle/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I'm not the most vocal guy, but I try to lead by example every single day with how I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/i-m-not-the-most-vocal-guy-but-i-try-to-lead-by-example-every-single/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [But actually theory is very practical. Gravity is a theory, for example. It allows you to predict that if you step off a cliff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/but-actually-theory-is-very-practical-gravity-is-a-theory-for-example/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [I had the best example set by my parents for what a couple can - and, in my opinion, should - be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/i-had-the-best-example-set-by-my-parents-for-what-a-couple-can-and-in/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [America's freedom is the example to which the world expires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/america-s-freedom-is-the-example-to-which-the-world-expires/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) Browse all 5,618 Example quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition of greatness; we need even more than Jesus' personal example of humble service. What we need is His death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. J. Mahaney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than-a-redefinition-of-greatness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Example" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than-a-redefinition-of-greatness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/c-j-mahaney-18178_example_to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than_364291.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/c-j-mahaney-18178_example_to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than_364291.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/c-j-mahaney-18178_example_to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than_364291.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition of greatness; we need even more than Jesus'…” — C. J. Mahaney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "C. J. Mahaney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To learn true humility, we need...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than-a-redefinition-of-greatness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than-a-redefinition-of-greatness/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```