--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What humility does for one is it reminds…" description: "\"What humility does for one is it reminds us that there are people before me. I have already been paid for. And what I need to do is prepare myself so t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/maya-angelou-104_been_what-humility-does-for-one-is-it-reminds_2472695.jpg" --- # What humility does for one is it reminds us that there are… ![“What humility does for one is it reminds us that there are people before me. I have already been paid for. And what I need to do is prepare myself so that I can pay for someone else who has yet to come but who may be here and needs me.” quote by Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/maya-angelou-104_been_what-humility-does-for-one-is-it-reminds_2472695.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/maya-angelou-104_been_what-humility-does-for-one-is-it-reminds_2472695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/maya-angelou-104_been_what-humility-does-for-one-is-it-reminds_2472695.jpg) > “What humility does for one is it reminds us that there are people before me. I have already been paid for. And what I need to do is prepare myself so that I can pay for someone else who has yet to come but who may be here and needs me.” [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humility reminds us we stand on others' contributions and inspires us to prepare to support future generations. **In simple terms:** Humility shows we owe others and must help future people. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and readiness to give back. Themes humility service legacy Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership roles - community service - teaching Key Concepts intergenerational responsibility gratitude mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How can humility be a strength? - What steps prepare you to support others? A Different Perspective Humility may be mistaken for weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does/) [Else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/else/) [Here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Humility Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility-does-695886/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Need Prepare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-prepare-267346/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pay Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-come-779226/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prepare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepare/) [Prepare Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepare-pay-779227/) [Reminds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reminds/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [It is important that we learn humility, which says there was someone else before me who paid for me. My responsibility is to prepare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/it-is-important-that-we-learn-humility-which-says-there-was-someone/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Anything you pray for, you need to prepare for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/anything-you-pray-for-you-need-to-prepare-for/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [I think we need to prepare for the worst, and so I support energy efficiency measures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/i-think-we-need-to-prepare-for-the-worst-and-so-i-support-energy/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [We're hoping for the best, but we need to prepare for the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/we-re-hoping-for-the-best-but-we-need-to-prepare-for-the-worst/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [We need to prepare our kids for a 21st Century economy, and we're not doing it with our schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/we-need-to-prepare-our-kids-for-a-21st-century-economy-and-we-re-not/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I like to be prepared enough to be completely unprepared. I don't know if I make sense, but I have a fantasy of living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nimrat-kaur/i-like-to-be-prepared-enough-to-be-completely-unprepared-i-don-t-know/) [Nimrat Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nimrat-kaur/) > [“No one is ever 'ready' to go on the adventure of a lifetime," Acatar replies sagely. "The only things you need to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-fox/no-one-is-ever-ready-to-go-on-the-adventure-of-a-lifetime-acatar/) [Arianna Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-fox/) > [That's not what people pay for. They pay to come see us play live, create magic on stage, not to be told how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/that-s-not-what-people-pay-for-they-pay-to-come-see-us-play-live/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [I pray for humility because that comes from inside out. And what humility does for one, is it reminds us that there are people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-pray-for-humility-because-that-comes-from-inside-out-and-what/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [In time like this we need to prepare ourself, physically and spiritually. So many temptations are occurring but we need to stand firm because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalyn/in-time-like-this-we-need-to-prepare-ourself-physically-and/) [Magdalyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalyn/) > [You've got to expect things are going to go wrong. And we always need to prepare ourselves for handling the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/you-ve-got-to-expect-things-are-going-to-go-wrong-and-we-always-need/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [“Sometimes I think people need to prepare to be born at a certain time to be of age in keeping with coming events. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-snaer/sometimes-i-think-people-need-to-prepare-to-be-born-at-a-certain-time/) [Dax Snaer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-snaer/) > [You need to prepare for every fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-nunes/you-need-to-prepare-for-every-fight/) [Amanda Nunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-nunes/) > [You need to prepare the child you have for the world that exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-rosin/you-need-to-prepare-the-child-you-have-for-the-world-that-exists/) [Hanna Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-rosin/) > [I know what I need to do to prepare myself, and I try to do the best I can to take care of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/i-know-what-i-need-to-do-to-prepare-myself-and-i-try-to-do-the-best-i/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) ## More by Maya Angelou > [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/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. 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Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-is-going-to-give-you-just-what-you-put-in-it-put-your-whole/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-may-write-me-down-in-history-with-your-bitter-twisted-lies-you/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-more-you-know-of-your-history-the-more-liberated-you-are/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Life offers us tickets to places which we have not knowingly asked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-offers-us-tickets-to-places-which-we-have-not-knowingly-asked-for/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm working at trying to be a Christian, and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-m-working-at-trying-to-be-a-christian-and-that-s-serious-business/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Nathaniel Hawthorne once said that easy reading is damn hard writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/nathaniel-hawthorne-once-said-that-easy-reading-is-damn-hard-writing/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Sunday, if I'm lucky, I'll go to church or listen to some good spiritual advice on the television or on the radio. I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/sunday-if-i-m-lucky-i-ll-go-to-church-or-listen-to-some-good/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) [Explore all 1,313 Maya Angelou quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [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/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. 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It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) [Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What humility does for one is it reminds us that there are people before me. I have already been paid for. 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