--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the…" description: "\"It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can't help being right.\" — Judith Martin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/judith-martin-1927_character_it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-vir_193574.png" --- # It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility… ![“It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can't help being right.” quote by Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/judith-martin-1927_character_it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-vir_193574.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/judith-martin-1927_character_it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-vir_193574.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/judith-martin-1927_character_it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-vir_193574.png) > “It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can't help being right.” [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maintaining humility is hard when you often feel correct, creating inner conflict. **In simple terms:** Humility vs. being right. Key Takeaway Practice modesty even when correct. Themes humility ego virtue Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - teamwork - personal development Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay humble when you’re often correct? - What habits foster humility? A Different Perspective Being right can inflate ego, making humility a conscious effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Miss manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miss-manners/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [“Only humility will help us grow. The feeling of I and mine obstructs any possibility of inner growth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amma/only-humility-will-help-us-grow-the-feeling-of-i-and-mine-obstructs/) Amma > [Miss Manners does not mind explaining the finer points of gracious living, but she feels that anyone without the sense to pick up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/miss-manners-does-not-mind-explaining-the-finer-points-of-gracious/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“DEAR MISS MANNERS: Should you tell your mother something if it is important when she is talking to company? I am six. GENTLE READER:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/dear-miss-manners-should-you-tell-your-mother-something-if-it-is/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“As if etiquette weren’t magnificently capable of being used to make others feel uncomfortable. All right. Miss Manners will give you an example, although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/as-if-etiquette-weren-t-magnificently-capable-of-being-used-to-make/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [It is one of Miss Manners's great discoveries that one needn't contradict others in order to set them straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/it-is-one-of-miss-manners-s-great-discoveries-that-one-needn-t/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Shame is the proper reaction when one has purposefully violated the accepted behavior of society. Inflicting it is etiquette's response when its rules are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/shame-is-the-proper-reaction-when-one-has-purposefully-violated-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“DEAR MISS MANNERS: When does a gentleman offer his arm to a lady as they are walking down the street together? GENTLE READER: Strictly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/dear-miss-manners-when-does-a-gentleman-offer-his-arm-to-a-lady-as/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Miss Manners herself, while never rude, is given to pulling a fast pinch in the way of a handshake on those who believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/miss-manners-herself-while-never-rude-is-given-to-pulling-a-fast/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [GENTLE READER: You, sir, are an anarchist, and Miss Manners is frightened to have anything to do with you. It is true that questioning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/gentle-reader-you-sir-are-an-anarchist-and-miss-manners-is-frightened/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“One of the major mistakes people make is that they think manners are only the expression of happy ideas. There’s a whole range of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/one-of-the-major-mistakes-people-make-is-that-they-think-manners-are/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“Miss Manners hereby absolves everyone from feeling any embarrassment deliberately imposed by others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/miss-manners-hereby-absolves-everyone-from-feeling-any-embarrassment/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Nobody believes that the man who says, 'Look, lady, you wanted equality,' to explain why he won't give up his seat to a pregnant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/nobody-believes-that-the-man-who-says-look-lady-you-wanted-equality/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“One can become quite proficient at this amiable patter; the trick is to omit the instructive parts when attending formal dinner parties outside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/one-can-become-quite-proficient-at-this-amiable-patter-the-trick-is/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“Relax!” “Don’t go to so much trouble!” “Why don’t you use plastic glasses?” “Take off your jacket!” “Why don’t you use paper napkins?” “Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/relax-don-t-go-to-so-much-trouble-why-don-t-you-use-plastic-glasses/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“DEAR MISS MANNERS: I a tired of being treated like a child. My father says it's because I am a child--I am twelve-and-a-half years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/dear-miss-manners-i-a-tired-of-being-treated-like-a-child-my-father/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) ## More by Judith Martin > [Smart people duck when they hear the dread announcement 'I'm going to be perfectly honest with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/smart-people-duck-when-they-hear-the-dread-announcement-i-m-going-to/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [If you put together all the ingredients that naturally attract children - sex, violence, revenge, spectacle and vigorous noise - what you have is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/if-you-put-together-all-the-ingredients-that-naturally-attract/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [The one prediction that never comes true is, 'You'll thank me for telling you this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-one-prediction-that-never-comes-true-is-you-ll-thank-me-for/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/chaperons-even-in-their-days-of-glory-were-almost-never-able-to/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [There are always proper responses, even to rude questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/there-are-always-proper-responses-even-to-rude-questions/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Perhaps the greatest rudenesses of our time come not from the callousness of strangers, but from the solicitousness of intimates who believe that their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/perhaps-the-greatest-rudenesses-of-our-time-come-not-from-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [We are all entitled to our little harmless habits, but we are not entitled to demand approval for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/we-are-all-entitled-to-our-little-harmless-habits-but-we-are-not/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“Lady” is not used before the lady’s first name unless she is the daughter of a duke, marquess or earl; those who come by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/lady-is-not-used-before-the-lady-s-first-name-unless-she-is-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Greece is a good place for rebirths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/greece-is-a-good-place-for-rebirths/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Adorable children are considered to be the general property of the human race. Rude children belong to their mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/adorable-children-are-considered-to-be-the-general-property-of-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [I have always believed that the key to a happy marriage was the ability to say with a straight face, 'Why, I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/i-have-always-believed-that-the-key-to-a-happy-marriage-was-the/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Honesty is a virtue, but not the only one. If you're in a courtroom you need the whole truth and nothing but the truth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/honesty-is-a-virtue-but-not-the-only-one-if-you-re-in-a-courtroom-you/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Only a person who considers himself too good for you is good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/only-a-person-who-considers-himself-too-good-for-you-is-good-enough/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Society cannot exist without etiquette ... It never has, and until our own century, everybody knew that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/society-cannot-exist-without-etiquette-it-never-has-and-until-our-own/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [The stress of making small talk with in-laws is called being part of a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-stress-of-making-small-talk-with-in-laws-is-called-being-part-of/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) [Explore all 197 Judith Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can't help being right.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith Martin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-virtue-of-humility-when-one-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-virtue-of-humility-when-one-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/judith-martin-1927_character_it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-vir_193574.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/judith-martin-1927_character_it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-vir_193574.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/judith-martin-1927_character_it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-vir_193574.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can't help being right.” — Judith Martin", "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": "Judith Martin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is, indeed, a trial to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-virtue-of-humility-when-one-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/it-is-indeed-a-trial-to-maintain-the-virtue-of-humility-when-one-can/#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 } } ] } ```