Humility Quote by Robert Anton Wilson
““Father Ratti had often explained, in Religious Knowledge class, that true humility did not mean a sense of worthlessness or the kind of timidity that caused some people to be cheated and bullied all their lives. The virtue of humility, Ratti said, was merely the faculty of intelligence operating properly "The man of wisdom," Ratti explained once, "fears only one man on earth. Do you know who that is?" And when everybody guessed wrong — some said the Pope, some said King Ferdinand — Ratti said, "The man of wisdom fears himself. He knows who it is who tells him the most plausible lies, the lies he wants to believe.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson, 1975
Humility is not self‑deprecation but honest self‑awareness; true wisdom fears the own self‑deception.
In simple terms: Humility means knowing your own lies.
Key Takeaway
Check your own assumptions.
Themes
humility
self‑awareness
wisdom
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- leadership
- critical thinking
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
self‑deception
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs do you hold that might be self‑deception?
- How can you test your own assumptions?
A Different Perspective
Self‑deception can be subtle and hard to detect.
