--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True humility derives from a proper…" description: "\"“True humility derives from a proper perspective of our human condition: one among billions on a small planet among billions, like a fungus on a tiny f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/neel-burton-16027_emotions_true-humility-derives-from-a-proper-pers_2817599.jpg" --- # True humility derives from a proper perspective of our… ![“True humility derives from a proper perspective of our human condition: one among billions on a small planet among billions, like a fungus on a tiny fragment of cheese. Of course, it is nearly impossible for human beings to remain this objective for very long, but truly humble people are…” quote by Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/neel-burton-16027_emotions_true-humility-derives-from-a-proper-pers_2817599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/neel-burton-16027_emotions_true-humility-derives-from-a-proper-pers_2817599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/neel-burton-16027_emotions_true-humility-derives-from-a-proper-pers_2817599.jpg) > ““True humility derives from a proper perspective of our human condition: one among billions on a small planet among billions, like a fungus on a tiny fragment of cheese. Of course, it is nearly impossible for human beings to remain this objective for very long, but truly humble people are nonetheless far more conscious of the insignificance of their true relations, an insignificance that verges on non-existence. A speck of dust does not think itself more superior or inferior than another, nor does it concern itself for what other specks of dust might or might not think. Enthralled by the miracle of existence, the truly humble person lives not for herself or her image, but for life itself, in a condition of pure peace and pleasure.”” [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humility arises from recognizing our tiny place in the universe, fostering peace and selflessness beyond ego. **In simple terms:** Seeing ourselves as tiny sparks. Key Takeaway Embrace humility for deeper peace. Themes humility perspective peace Mood contemplative calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - mindfulness practice - teaching - writing Key Concepts existentialism self-transcendence Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing insignificance affect daily choices? - What practices nurture lasting humility? A Different Perspective Humility can be hard to maintain amid societal ego. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Humble People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble-people/) [Humble person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble-person/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Humility Derives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility-derives-2589195/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [True humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-humility/) [True relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-relation/) [True Relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-relations/) [Truly Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-humble-464123/) ## Related quotes > [“The truly humble person will have a genuine desire to be thought little of, and persecuted, and condemned unjustly, even in serious matters. For,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/the-truly-humble-person-will-have-a-genuine-desire-to-be-thought/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [A truly humble person knows that they are nothing in themselves but they are everything in Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/a-truly-humble-person-knows-that-they-are-nothing-in-themselves-but/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We notice the person who is for ever bowing and fussily servile, and perhaps say, How humble he is! But the truly humble person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-colliander/we-notice-the-person-who-is-for-ever-bowing-and-fussily-servile-and/) [Tito Colliander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-colliander/) > [True humility involves opposites. The truly humble work in silence. Because they do not speak of their accomplishments, credit for them can never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/true-humility-involves-opposites-the-truly-humble-work-in-silence/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Our word humility derives from the Latin humus, for soil or earth—that ground from which humankind arose, from which we draw our sustenance, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ussher/our-word-humility-derives-from-the-latin-humus-for-soil-or-earth-that/) [Patrick Ussher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ussher/) > [You have to learn humility. First of all you have to be humble people. Unless and until you have a large heart you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/you-have-to-learn-humility-first-of-all-you-have-to-be-humble-people/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [“A truly humble apology works to part storm clouds, calm rough seas, and bring on the soft lights of dawn; it has the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-truly-humble-apology-works-to-part-storm-clouds-calm-rough-seas-and/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [The truly humble feel the ground beneath their feet every day and do not only become aware of it when held aloft or pushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/the-truly-humble-feel-the-ground-beneath-their-feet-every-day-and-do/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/a-true-nothing-is-not-competitive-but-i-don-t-think-i-m-being/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [Humility collects the soul into a single point by the power of silence. A truly humble man has no desire to be known or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-of-nineveh/humility-collects-the-soul-into-a-single-point-by-the-power-of/) [Isaac of Nineveh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-of-nineveh/) > [ The devil sees nothing more abominable than a truly humble christian, for \[that Christian\] is just the opposite of \[the devil's\] own image ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-nielsen-hauge/the-devil-sees-nothing-more-abominable-than-a-truly-humble-christian/) [Hans Nielsen Hauge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-nielsen-hauge/) > [If we are truly humble , we will co-operate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/if-we-are-truly-humble-we-will-co-operate/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [ \[A\] truly humble spirit humbles itself as much amid honors as amid insults, acting like the honeybee which makes its honey equally as well… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/a-truly-humble-spirit-humbles-itself-as-much-amid-honors-as-amid/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [A truly humble man is sensible of his natural distance from God; of his dependence on Him; of the insufficiency of his own power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/a-truly-humble-man-is-sensible-of-his-natural-distance-from-god-of/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“You might say I’m an advocate for humility in leaders. But to be truly humble, those leaders must first understand how many of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/you-might-say-i-m-an-advocate-for-humility-in-leaders-but-to-be-truly/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) ## More by Neel Burton > [“Loneliness is the manifestation of the conflict between our desire for meaning and the absence of objective meaning from the universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/loneliness-is-the-manifestation-of-the-conflict-between-our-desire/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“Just as Prometheus delivered stolen fire to man, so Eve, and the serpent, delivered man into self-consciousness, setting him up, were it not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/just-as-prometheus-delivered-stolen-fire-to-man-so-eve-and-the/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“Just as we use speech and gestures to communicate, so we use touch. Words can say, ‘I love you’, but touch can also say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/just-as-we-use-speech-and-gestures-to-communicate-so-we-use-touch/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [Depression: the healthy suspicion that modern life has no meaning and that modern society is absurd and alienating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/depression-the-healthy-suspicion-that-modern-life-has-no-meaning-and/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“Ultimately, loneliness is not the experience of lacking but the experience of living. It is part and parcel of the human condition, and, unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/ultimately-loneliness-is-not-the-experience-of-lacking-but-the/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [Man first creates the universe in his image, and then turns round to say that God created man in his image... As Voltaire quipped,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/man-first-creates-the-universe-in-his-image-and-then-turns-round-to/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“Philosophy is a bitter medicine with many fearsome side effects, but if you are able to stomach it, it can cure your soul of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/philosophy-is-a-bitter-medicine-with-many-fearsome-side-effects-but/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“In refining their senses and aesthetic judgement, blind tasters become much more conscious of the richness not only of wine but also of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/in-refining-their-senses-and-aesthetic-judgement-blind-tasters-become/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [Self-deception is a defining part of our human nature. By recognizing its various forms in ourselves and reflecting upon them, we may be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/self-deception-is-a-defining-part-of-our-human-nature-by-recognizing/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“Wonder begets culture, which begets yet more wonder, and the end of wonder is wisdom, which is the state of perpetual wonder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/wonder-begets-culture-which-begets-yet-more-wonder-and-the-end-of/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [There are essentially three types of people: those who love life more than they fear it, those who fear life more than they love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/there-are-essentially-three-types-of-people-those-who-love-life-more/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“Our life is just as long or short as our remembering: as rich as our imagining, as vibrant as our feeling, and as profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/our-life-is-just-as-long-or-short-as-our-remembering-as-rich-as-our/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“Although selfhood depends causally upon the existence of the brain, it amounts to something far more than the brain. This something is vague and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/although-selfhood-depends-causally-upon-the-existence-of-the-brain-it/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“I can't believe I spent 13 years at school and never got taught cooking, gardening, conversation, massage, Latin, or philosophy. What were they thinking?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/i-can-t-believe-i-spent-13-years-at-school-and-never-got-taught/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“If you’ve found something in life that's better than sleeping, you’re already a huge success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/if-you-ve-found-something-in-life-that-s-better-than-sleeping-you-re/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) [Explore all 41 Neel Burton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) ## More Emotions quotes > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [On stage, you can bring all those strong emotions that you don't have the opportunity to live. You don't want to die for love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/on-stage-you-can-bring-all-those-strong-emotions-that-you-don-t-have/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [You will never fully understand how much you mean to me, because there are no amount of words that can begin to describe my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-fully-understand-how-much-you-mean-to-me-because-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) [Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlin/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mind has trouble processing all the emotions I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mind-has-trouble-processing-all-the-emotions-i-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. Those emotions are poison to any living goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/its-a-lack-of-clarity-that-creates-chaos-and-frustration-those/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. 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I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) [Browse all 4,415 Emotions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“True humility derives from a proper perspective of our human condition: one among billions on a small planet among billions, like a fungus on a tiny fragment of cheese. Of course, it is nearly impossible for human beings to remain this objective for very long, but truly humble people are nonetheless far more conscious of the insignificance of their true relations, an insignificance that verges on non-existence. A speck of dust does not think itself more superior or inferior than another, nor does it concern itself for what other specks of dust might or might not think. 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