--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At heart a truly modest man, he had…" description: "\"At heart a truly modest man, he had nevertheless the modest man's pride in his modesty in the face of achievement.\" — Pearl S. Buck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/pearl-s-buck-1024_achievement_at-heart-a-truly-modest-man-he-had-never_2529274.png" --- # At heart a truly modest man, he had nevertheless the… ![“At heart a truly modest man, he had nevertheless the modest man's pride in his modesty in the face of achievement.” quote by Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/pearl-s-buck-1024_achievement_at-heart-a-truly-modest-man-he-had-never_2529274.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/pearl-s-buck-1024_achievement_at-heart-a-truly-modest-man-he-had-never_2529274.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/pearl-s-buck-1024_achievement_at-heart-a-truly-modest-man-he-had-never_2529274.png) > “At heart a truly modest man, he had nevertheless the modest man's pride in his modesty in the face of achievement.” [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True modesty includes pride in one's humility, especially when achievements could inflate ego. **In simple terms:** Humility can coexist with pride. Key Takeaway Celebrate achievements without losing modesty. Themes humility pride achievement self‑esteem Mood humble balanced Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career success - public recognition - personal milestones Key Concepts psychology ethics character development Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay modest after success? - When does pride become harmful? A Different Perspective Pride may become arrogance if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [No one has a greater asset for his business than a man's pride in his work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/no-one-has-a-greater-asset-for-his-business-than-a-man-s-pride-in-his/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [“Love was not the point and pity was a poor man's pride.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-lynn-payne/love-was-not-the-point-and-pity-was-a-poor-man-s-pride/) [Holly Lynn Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-lynn-payne/) > [A man's pride can be his downfall, and he needs to learn when to turn to others for support and guidance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/a-man-s-pride-can-be-his-downfall-and-he-needs-to-learn-when-to-turn/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [“A man's pride needs careful handling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mackenzie/a-man-s-pride-needs-careful-handling/) [Sally MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mackenzie/) > [The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-modest-in-his-speech-but-exceeds-in-his-actions/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-superior-man-is-modest-in-his-speech-but-exceeds-in-his-actions/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [It well becomes a young man to be modest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/it-well-becomes-a-young-man-to-be-modest/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [In peace there's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/in-peace-there-s-nothing-so-becomes-a-man-as-modest-stillness-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [When a man's pride is subdued it's like the sides of Mount Aetna. 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