--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It happens, I do not know how, that most…" description: "\"It happens, I do not know how, that most of the proud never really discover their true selves. They think they have conquered their passions and they f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/john-climacus-11711_dies_it-happens-i-do-not-know-how-that-most-o_2360747.jpg" --- # It happens, I do not know how, that most of the proud… ![“It happens, I do not know how, that most of the proud never really discover their true selves. They think they have conquered their passions and they find out how poor they really are only after they die.” quote by John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/john-climacus-11711_dies_it-happens-i-do-not-know-how-that-most-o_2360747.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/john-climacus-11711_dies_it-happens-i-do-not-know-how-that-most-o_2360747.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/john-climacus-11711_dies_it-happens-i-do-not-know-how-that-most-o_2360747.jpg) > “It happens, I do not know how, that most of the proud never really discover their true selves. They think they have conquered their passions and they find out how poor they really are only after they die.” [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pride blinds self‑knowledge; true self is often uncovered only after death. **In simple terms:** Pride hides true self. Key Takeaway Seek humility to know yourself. Themes pride self‑awareness humility Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - life coaching - therapy - spiritual practice Key Concepts existential insight spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - What does humility look like in your life? - How can you confront your own pride? A Different Perspective Self‑discovery can be uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conquered Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquered-passions-1300234/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Know Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-proud-804285/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Passions Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passions-poor-5778902/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-really-2713653/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [True self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-self/) [True Selves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-selves-507825/) ## Related quotes > [The one who has not conquered the passions cannot enter the chaste and pure region of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/the-one-who-has-not-conquered-the-passions-cannot-enter-the-chaste/) [Vladimir Aleksandrovich Antonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/) > [Long ago we conquered our passions looking at ourselves in the mirror of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/long-ago-we-conquered-our-passions-looking-at-ourselves-in-the-mirror/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Each of us is here to discover our true selves; that essentially we are spiritual beings who have taken manifestation in physical form; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/each-of-us-is-here-to-discover-our-true-selves-that-essentially-we/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [We think sometimes we're only drawn to the good, but we're actually drawn to the authentic. We like people who are real more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-think-sometimes-we-re-only-drawn-to-the-good-but-we-re-actually/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [Vain indeed is all overweening pride in the conquest even of the entire universe if one has not conquered one's own passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/vain-indeed-is-all-overweening-pride-in-the-conquest-even-of-the/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Only by glaring into the depths of ones own reflection can we find our true selves. It is here where the mirrored voices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-morabito/only-by-glaring-into-the-depths-of-ones-own-reflection-can-we-find/) [Paul Morabito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-morabito/) > [Avatars are a way to express our true selves, our most heroic, idealized version of who we might become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/avatars-are-a-way-to-express-our-true-selves-our-most-heroic/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [I'm not sticking up for white kids - I'm going to have a barrage of hate mail - but it's true. If you're poor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-m-not-sticking-up-for-white-kids-i-m-going-to-have-a-barrage-of/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [I grew up in Northern Ireland, in the middle of nowhere, and when you are poor, you are really poor. And when you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anderson/i-grew-up-in-northern-ireland-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-and-when-you/) [Jonathan Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anderson/) > [My parents and I were all afraid of being poor - really poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/my-parents-and-i-were-all-afraid-of-being-poor-really-poor/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I have lost everything, and I am so poor now that I really cannot afford to let anything worry me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jefferson/i-have-lost-everything-and-i-am-so-poor-now-that-i-really-cannot/) [Joseph Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jefferson/) > [When you've been poor, you're not really scared of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chappell-roan/when-you-ve-been-poor-you-re-not-really-scared-of-anything/) [Chappell Roan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chappell-roan/) > [What is the greatest thing in us is our Spirit, is the Spirit that we have and we should know that we should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/what-is-the-greatest-thing-in-us-is-our-spirit-is-the-spirit-that-we/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [I want people to hear the name Mustafa Ali and want them to know that I'm a proud American. I'm from here, I'm from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-ali/i-want-people-to-hear-the-name-mustafa-ali-and-want-them-to-know-that/) [Mustafa Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-ali/) > [Y r u calling me a bitch when I already know that I'm one a proud to be one two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alley-lobb/y-r-u-calling-me-a-bitch-when-i-already-know-that-i-m-one-a-proud-to/) [Alley Lobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alley-lobb/) ## More by John Climacus > [When people begin to praise us, let us hurry to remember the multitude of ours transgressions, and we will see that we are truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/when-people-begin-to-praise-us-let-us-hurry-to-remember-the-multitude/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [He does not show humility who accuses himself (for who will not accept rebukes from himself?), but he who, being rebuked by another, does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/he-does-not-show-humility-who-accuses-himself-for-who-will-not-accept/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Pride is the utter poverty of soul disguised as riches, imaginary light where in fact there is darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/pride-is-the-utter-poverty-of-soul-disguised-as-riches-imaginary/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [A discerning man, when he eats grapes, takes only the ripe ones and leaves the sour. Thus also the discerning mind carefully marks the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/a-discerning-man-when-he-eats-grapes-takes-only-the-ripe-ones-and/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Do not stop praying as long as, by God's grace, the fire and the water have not been exhausted, for it may happen that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/do-not-stop-praying-as-long-as-by-god-s-grace-the-fire-and-the-water/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Holy love has a way of consuming some. This is what is meant by the one who said, 'You have ravished our hearts' (Sg.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/holy-love-has-a-way-of-consuming-some-this-is-what-is-meant-by-the/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [The first stage of this tranquility consists in silencing the lips when the heart is excited. The second, in silencing the mind when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/the-first-stage-of-this-tranquility-consists-in-silencing-the-lips/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Someone who is elated with wine speaks the truth on all subjects, even without meaning to. In the same way, anyone who is inebriated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/someone-who-is-elated-with-wine-speaks-the-truth-on-all-subjects-even/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [It can happen that when we are at prayer some brothers come to see us. Then we have to choose either to interrupt our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/it-can-happen-that-when-we-are-at-prayer-some-brothers-come-to-see-us/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [When a man has found the Lord, he no longer has to use words when he is praying, for the Spirit Himself will intercede…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/when-a-man-has-found-the-lord-he-no-longer-has-to-use-words-when-he/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Obedience is the burial of the will and the resurrection of humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/obedience-is-the-burial-of-the-will-and-the-resurrection-of-humility/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Humility is the only thing that no devil can imitate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/humility-is-the-only-thing-that-no-devil-can-imitate/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Humility is the only virtue that no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/humility-is-the-only-virtue-that-no-devil-can-imitate-if-pride-made/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Repentance lifts a man up. Mourning knocks at heaven's gate. Holy humility opens it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/repentance-lifts-a-man-up-mourning-knocks-at-heaven-s-gate-holy/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [When you are depressed, bear in mind the Lord's command to Peter to forgive a sinner seventy times seven (cf. Mt. 18:22). And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/when-you-are-depressed-bear-in-mind-the-lord-s-command-to-peter-to/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) [Explore all 58 John Climacus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) ## More Dies 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/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Don't even think for a moment that you are not going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/don-t-even-think-for-a-moment-that-you-are-not-going-to-die/) [Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [“When he stops giving you butterflies, Love dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-blanchard/when-he-stops-giving-you-butterflies-love-dies/) [Michelle Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-blanchard/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [I don't want to just die a normal death, I wanna be killed twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-don-t-want-to-just-die-a-normal-death-i-wanna-be-killed-twice/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [My father thrives on fear. You know that prayer If I should die before I wake? I had sheets that said that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/my-father-thrives-on-fear-you-know-that-prayer-if-i-should-die-before/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. But we have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-mind-is-a-prison-it-cannot-find-any-freedom-anywhere-it-must-die/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [If you’re going to die on screen, you’ve got to be strong and in good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/if-you-re-going-to-die-on-screen-you-ve-got-to-be-strong-and-in-good/) [Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/) [Browse all 7,484 Dies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It happens, I do not know how, that most of the proud never really discover their true selves. 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