---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...most systems end up by making imagined…"
description: "\"“...most systems end up by making imagined humility into a form of vanity, so they end up with vanity just the same.”\" — Idries Shah"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/idries-shah-450_ego_most-systems-end-up-by-making-imagined-h_3065657.jpg"
---

#  ...most systems end up by making imagined humility into a…

![“...most systems end up by making imagined humility into a form of vanity, so they end up with vanity just the same.” quote by Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/idries-shah-450_ego_most-systems-end-up-by-making-imagined-h_3065657.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/idries-shah-450_ego_most-systems-end-up-by-making-imagined-h_3065657.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/idries-shah-450_ego_most-systems-end-up-by-making-imagined-h_3065657.jpg)

> ““...most systems end up by making imagined humility into a form of vanity, so they end up with vanity just the same.””

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often disguise self‑importance as modesty, turning humility into a vanity of its own.

**In simple terms:** Pretending to be humble can be just another ego boost.

Key Takeaway

Watch for false modesty in yourself and others.

Themes

humility ego authenticity

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- leadership
- personal development
- team dynamics

Key Concepts

psychology social perception

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you differentiate genuine humility from self‑promotion?
- What signals reveal hidden vanity?

A Different Perspective

True humility requires honest self‑assessment, not performance.

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[Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [End Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-vanity-5162388/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Form Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-vanity-2036242/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Imagined Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagined-humility-5162387/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Sufis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufis/) [Sufism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufism/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Vanity Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity-just-613779/)

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> [“It is axiomatic that the attempt to become a Sufi through a desire for personal power as normally understood will not succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/it-is-axiomatic-that-the-attempt-to-become-a-sufi-through-a-desire/)

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> [ “Saadi: Be a true renouncer, (zahid) and \[you can even\] ware satin.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/saadi-be-a-true-renouncer-zahid-and-you-can-even-ware-satin/)

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> [It is the message, not the man, which is important to the Sufis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/it-is-the-message-not-the-man-which-is-important-to-the-sufis/)

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> [“Sufism is transmitted by means of the human exemplar, the teacher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/sufism-is-transmitted-by-means-of-the-human-exemplar-the-teacher/)

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> [“Study institutions may become visible when the head is more emptied of imaginings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/study-institutions-may-become-visible-when-the-head-is-more-emptied/)

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

## More by Idries Shah

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## More Ego quotes

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

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> [I love playing ego and insecurity combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-love-playing-ego-and-insecurity-combined/)

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