Able Quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
“Humility is often merely feigned submissiveness assumed in order to subject others, an artifice of pride which stoops to conquer, and although pride has a thousand ways of transforming itself it is never so well disguised and able to take people in as when masquerading as humility.”
About This Quote
Humility can be a disguise for pride, allowing people to manipulate others while appearing modest.
In simple terms: Fake humility hides pride and manipulates.
Key Takeaway
Beware of false modesty.
Themes
pride
humility
manipulation
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- interpersonal dynamics
- ethical behavior
Key Concepts
social deception
psychology of ego
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you discern genuine humility?
- When does humility become a tool for control?
A Different Perspective
Not all humility is genuine; context matters.
![“[W]hat we also see in sex is a kind of submissiveness. But not a kind of submissiveness which is simply 'do what you like, I'm just here for you', but it...is, or can be, very manipulative. It is a way of getting the other person to exercise all his or her efforts towards pleasing you, and in that…” quote by Robert C. Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/571/robert-c-solomon-13743_existentialism_w-hat-we-also-see-in-sex-is-a-kind-of-su_155420.jpg)
