First place Quote by Lydia Davis
““A true nothing is not competitive. But I don't think I'm being competitive when I say it. I am feeling truly humble, at that moment. Or I think I am—in fact, can anyone be truly humble at the moment they say they want to learn to be nothing? But there is another problem, which I have been wanting to describe to Bob for weeks now: at last, halfway through your life, you are smart enough to see that it all amounts to nothing, even success amounts to nothing. But how does a person learn to see herself as nothing when she has already had so much trouble learning to see herself as something in the first place? It's so confusing. You spend the first half of your life learning that you are something after all, now you have to spend the second half learning to see yourself as nothing. You have been a negative nothing, now you want to be a positive nothing.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis, 2009
The quote explores the paradox of humility versus self‑identity, suggesting that true humility involves seeing oneself as “nothing” after a lifetime of defining oneself as “something.”
In simple terms: True humility means seeing yourself as nothing after being something.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility by letting go of self‑importance.
Themes
humility
identity
paradox
self‑knowledge
Mood
contemplative
conflicted
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- midlife reflection
- spiritual practice
- personal growth
- psychotherapy
- teaching
Key Concepts
existentialism
self‑concept
nihilism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one balance self‑worth with the desire to be “nothing”?
- What practices help dissolve the ego without loss of purpose?
A Different Perspective
True humility may be impossible to achieve when language and ego resist the concept.
![“I worked more intensively hour after hour when I was starting out [writing]. More laboriously. I'd say quantity is important as well as quality, and if you're not producing enough, make a schedule and stick to it.” quote by Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/29b/lydia-davis-3244_after-hours_i-worked-more-intensively-hour-after-hou_171566.jpg)
