--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humility must always be doing its work…" description: "\"Humility must always be doing its work like a bee making honey in the hive: without humility all will be lost.\" — Teresa of Avila" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/teresa-of-vila-1246_bees_humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-l_1009302.jpg" --- # Humility must always be doing its work like a bee making… ![“Humility must always be doing its work like a bee making honey in the hive: without humility all will be lost.” quote by Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/teresa-of-vila-1246_bees_humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-l_1009302.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/teresa-of-vila-1246_bees_humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-l_1009302.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/teresa-of-vila-1246_bees_humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-l_1009302.jpg) > “Humility must always be doing its work like a bee making honey in the hive: without humility all will be lost.” [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humility works quietly and consistently, like a bee producing honey, essential for collective well‑being. **In simple terms:** Quiet effort sustains the group. Key Takeaway Cultivate modest, steady contributions. Themes humility service community Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team projects - family life - volunteer work - leadership roles Key Concepts spirituality work ethic Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice humility without self‑neglect? - What small acts of service can you start today? A Different Perspective Humility alone cannot fix systemic failures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/) [Hive Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hive-humility-2182474/) [Hives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hives/) [Honey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honey/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Humility Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility-doing-2182475/) [Humility Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility-lost-1036487/) [Like Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-bee-596083/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) ## Related quotes > [He who does not attempt to make peace / When small discords arise, / Is like the bee's hive which leaks drops of honey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akkineni-nagarjuna/he-who-does-not-attempt-to-make-peace-when-small-discords-arise-is/) [Akkineni Nagarjuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akkineni-nagarjuna/) > [Learn to self-conquest, persevere thus for a time, and you will perceive very clearly the advantage which you gain from it. As soon you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/learn-to-self-conquest-persevere-thus-for-a-time-and-you-will/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [By forgiving those who hurt u unknwnly u become a tru symbolof humility, by doing good 2 those who expect notin frm happines u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalilamus-ibrahim/by-forgiving-those-who-hurt-u-unknwnly-u-become-a-tru-symbolof/) [Khalilamus Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalilamus-ibrahim/) > [Like the bee its sting, the promiscuous leave behind them in each encounter something of themselves by which they are made to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/like-the-bee-its-sting-the-promiscuous-leave-behind-them-in-each/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [We gon' float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. AH! Rumble, young man rumble! 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It means that you realize that others have been involved in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/humility-is-becoming-a-lost-art-but-it-s-not-difficult-to-practice-it/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [It is not caving in to the bees to stop poking a stick into their hive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/it-is-not-caving-in-to-the-bees-to-stop-poking-a-stick-into-their-hive/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [Take from my palms, to soothe your heart, a little honey, a little sun, in obedience to Persephone's bees. You can't untie a boat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osip-mandelstam/take-from-my-palms-to-soothe-your-heart-a-little-honey-a-little-sun/) [Osip Mandelstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osip-mandelstam/) > [The little bee returns with evening's gloom, To join her comrades in the braided hive, Where, housed beside their might honey-comb, They dream their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tennyson-turner/the-little-bee-returns-with-evening-s-gloom-to-join-her-comrades-in/) [Charles Tennyson Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tennyson-turner/) ## More by Teresa of Avila > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-made-you-dear-and-all-i-make-is-perfect-please-come-close-for-i/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-often-i-failed-in-my-duty-to-god-because-i-was-not-leaning-on-the/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my-soul-great-harm-for-i-could/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Truth suffers, but never dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/truth-suffers-but-never-dies/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“you will never lack so much of the water of comfort that your thirst will be intolerable;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/you-will-never-lack-so-much-of-the-water-of-comfort-that-your-thirst/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/whoever-has-god-lacks-nothing-god-alone-suffices/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/do-you-know-when-people-really-become-spiritual-it-is-when-they/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [How friendly we should all be with one another if nobody were interested in money and honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-friendly-we-should-all-be-with-one-another-if-nobody-were/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were thought of as something to be obtained at all costs. Among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy-and-other-extraordinary/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“The Lord has no body now on earth but yours, no hands now but yours, no feet now but yours. Yours are the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/the-lord-has-no-body-now-on-earth-but-yours-no-hands-now-but-yours-no/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such little worth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/our-greatest-gain-is-to-lose-the-wealth-that-is-of-such-brief/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [God has no hands or feet or voice except ours and through these He works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/god-has-no-hands-or-feet-or-voice-except-ours-and-through-these-he/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There's no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/his-majesty-knows-best-what-is-suitable-for-us-there-s-no-need-for-us/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [There is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we consider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/there-is-no-affliction-trial-or-labor-difficult-to-endure-when-we/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) [Explore all 267 Teresa of Avila quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) ## More Bees quotes > [Those who have not been stung will hardly fear a bee the same as those who have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/those-who-have-not-been-stung-will-hardly-fear-a-bee-the-same-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [As the bee collecteth honey with great zest, so the fool collecteth wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/as-the-bee-collecteth-honey-with-great-zest-so-the-fool-collecteth/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [It is hard to imagine a world without bees. It would be even harder to live in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/it-is-hard-to-imagine-a-world-without-bees-it-would-be-even-harder-to/) [Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/) > [When I heard that the bees were in trouble, the fact that they're disappearing and not coming back to the hive, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-schwartzberg/when-i-heard-that-the-bees-were-in-trouble-the-fact-that-they-re/) [Louie Schwartzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-schwartzberg/) > [Precise, graceful, and generous, the poems in SuperLoop, seem to be born out of a deep, careful attention and a profound compassion. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-limon/precise-graceful-and-generous-the-poems-in-superloop-seem-to-be-born/) [Ada Limon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-limon/) > [The little bee returns with evening's gloom, To join her comrades in the braided hive, Where, housed beside their might honey-comb, They dream their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tennyson-turner/the-little-bee-returns-with-evening-s-gloom-to-join-her-comrades-in/) [Charles Tennyson Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tennyson-turner/) > [“This time of year, the purple blooms were busy with life- not just the bees, but butterflies and ladybugs, skippers and emerald-toned beetles, flitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/this-time-of-year-the-purple-blooms-were-busy-with-life-not-just-the/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [“Bees chase flowers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-l-shreve/bees-chase-flowers/) [Tracy L. Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-l-shreve/) > [My banks they are furnish'd with bees, Whose murmur invites one to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/my-banks-they-are-furnish-d-with-bees-whose-murmur-invites-one-to/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-are-certain-pursuits-which-if-not-wholly-poetic-and-true-do-at/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Bee Gees are a fly-by-night sort of group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gibb/the-bee-gees-are-a-fly-by-night-sort-of-group/) [Barry Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gibb/) > [“I don't like to hear cut and dried sermons. No—when I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-to-hear-cut-and-dried-sermons-no-when-i-hear-a-man/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 770 Bees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Humility must always be doing its work like a bee making honey in the hive: without humility all will be lost.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Teresa of Avila" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-like-a-bee-making-honey-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-like-a-bee-making-honey-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/teresa-of-vila-1246_bees_humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-l_1009302.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/teresa-of-vila-1246_bees_humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-l_1009302.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/teresa-of-vila-1246_bees_humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-l_1009302.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Humility must always be doing its work like a bee making honey in the hive: without humility all will be lost.” — Teresa of Avila", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Teresa of Avila", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Humility must always be doing its...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-like-a-bee-making-honey-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/humility-must-always-be-doing-its-work-like-a-bee-making-honey-in-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```