--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The highest in God's esteem are the…" description: "\"The highest in God's esteem are the lowest in their own.\" — Thomas a Kempis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/thomas-a-kempis-721_esteem_the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowe_312435.png" --- # The highest in God's esteem are the lowest in their own. ![“The highest in God's esteem are the lowest in their own.” quote by Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/thomas-a-kempis-721_esteem_the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowe_312435.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/thomas-a-kempis-721_esteem_the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowe_312435.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/thomas-a-kempis-721_esteem_the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowe_312435.png) > “The highest in God's esteem are the lowest in their own.” [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those who consider themselves humble are actually exalted in God's eyes, while self‑importance lowers one's spiritual standing. **In simple terms:** Humility is valued above pride. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility. Themes humility spirituality pride self‑perception Mood serene reverent Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - personal reflection - leadership - teaching - spiritual practice Key Concepts divine perspective inner humility moral hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice humility daily? - What does true humility look like in your life? A Different Perspective Pride can be hard to recognize. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Self respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-respect/) ## Related quotes > [“What liberty we find when we trade self-esteem for God-esteem, relying on what God’s Word says about us rather than looking solely to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-gallier/what-liberty-we-find-when-we-trade-self-esteem-for-god-esteem-relying/) [Laura Gallier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-gallier/) > [“The severest self-denials and the most lavish gifts are of no value in God's esteem unless they are prompted by love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-pink/the-severest-self-denials-and-the-most-lavish-gifts-are-of-no-value/) A.W. Pink > [Since we astronomers are priests of the highest God in regard to the book of nature, it befits us to be thoughtful, not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/since-we-astronomers-are-priests-of-the-highest-god-in-regard-to-the/) [Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/) > [The highest God and the innermost God is one God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-highest-god-and-the-innermost-god-is-one-god/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [The burden of all song and praise "unto the Highest" has been that God stands for justice and mercy. Yet injustice among men is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-burden-of-all-song-and-praise-unto-the-highest-has-been-that-god/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [From the highest god to the meanest grass, the same power is present in all - whether manifested or not. We shall have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/from-the-highest-god-to-the-meanest-grass-the-same-power-is-present/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Jealousy is indeed a poor medium to secure love, but it is a secure medium to destroy one's self-respect. For jealous people, like dope-fiends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/jealousy-is-indeed-a-poor-medium-to-secure-love-but-it-is-a-secure/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [And I can't even go to the grocery store without some ones that's clean and a shirt with a team/It seems we living the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/and-i-can-t-even-go-to-the-grocery-store-without-some-ones-that-s/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Believe in yourself and what you feel. Your power will come from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/believe-in-yourself-and-what-you-feel-your-power-will-come-from-that/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I have always regarded myself as the pillar of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-have-always-regarded-myself-as-the-pillar-of-my-life/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [There is no magic cure, no making it all go away forever. There are only small steps upward; an easier day, an unexpected laugh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/there-is-no-magic-cure-no-making-it-all-go-away-forever-there-are/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/self-respect-is-the-noblest-garment-with-which-a-man-can-clothe/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Self-esteem is made up primarily of two things: feeling lovable and feeling capable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/self-esteem-is-made-up-primarily-of-two-things-feeling-lovable-and/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) ## More by Thomas a Kempis > [Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/have-therefore-zeal-to-better-thyself-and-then-mayst-thou-have-zeal/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Patience is necessary in this life because so much of life is fraught with adversity. No matter how hard we try, our lives will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/patience-is-necessary-in-this-life-because-so-much-of-life-is-fraught/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [To take no account of oneself, but always to think well and highly of others is the highest wisdom and perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/to-take-no-account-of-oneself-but-always-to-think-well-and-highly-of/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [It is easier not to speak a word at all than to speak more words than we should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/it-is-easier-not-to-speak-a-word-at-all-than-to-speak-more-words-than/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent-upon-pleasing-his-fellows-nor/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“0 true and heavenly grace, without which our own merits are nothing, and our natural gifts of no account! Neither arts nor riches, beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/0-true-and-heavenly-grace-without-which-our-own-merits-are-nothing/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you would endeavor, like men of courage, to stand in the battle, surely we would feel the favorable assistance of God from heaven.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-would-endeavor-like-men-of-courage-to-stand-in-the-battle/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“No man safely goeth abroad who loveth not to rest at home. No man safely talketh but he who loveth to hold his peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/no-man-safely-goeth-abroad-who-loveth-not-to-rest-at-home-no-man/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Nature has a relish for knowing secrets and hearing news. It wishes to appear abroad and to have sense experiences. It wishes to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/nature-has-a-relish-for-knowing-secrets-and-hearing-news-it-wishes-to/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Love is watchful. Sleeping, it does not slumber. Wearied, it is not tired. Pressed, it is not straitened. Alarmed, it is not confused, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/love-is-watchful-sleeping-it-does-not-slumber-wearied-it-is-not-tired/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you bear the cross gladly, it will bear you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-bear-the-cross-gladly-it-will-bear-you/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will be worthy to receive greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-thankful-for-the-smallest-blessing-and-you-will-be-worthy-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you cast away one cross, you will certainly find another, and perhaps a heavier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-cast-away-one-cross-you-will-certainly-find-another-and/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Dispose thyself to patience rather than to comfort, and to the bearing of the cross rather than to gladness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/dispose-thyself-to-patience-rather-than-to-comfort-and-to-the-bearing/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) [Explore all 387 Thomas a Kempis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## More Esteem quotes > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Nothing is better for self-esteem than survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/nothing-is-better-for-self-esteem-than-survival/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [So I went to a club the other day, which is timely because my self esteem had been hovering right around 'normal' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/so-i-went-to-a-club-the-other-day-which-is-timely-because-my-self/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [You never exist quite so much as when you are not thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/you-never-exist-quite-so-much-as-when-you-are-not-thinking/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Never let the opinion of another affect your opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/never-let-the-opinion-of-another-affect-your-opinion-of-yourself/) [Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/) > [You'd be surprised how addicting high self-esteem is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/you-d-be-surprised-how-addicting-high-self-esteem-is/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/the-only-thing-i-pay-attention-to-with-free-throws-is-what-a-guy-does/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [When one is a stranger to oneself then one is estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/when-one-is-a-stranger-to-oneself-then-one-is-estranged-from-others/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Browse all 1,681 Esteem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The highest in God's esteem are the lowest in their own.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas a Kempis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowest-in-their-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Esteem" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowest-in-their-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/thomas-a-kempis-721_esteem_the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowe_312435.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/thomas-a-kempis-721_esteem_the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowe_312435.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/thomas-a-kempis-721_esteem_the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowe_312435.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The highest in God's esteem are the lowest in their own.” — Thomas a Kempis", "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": "Thomas a Kempis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The highest in God's esteem are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowest-in-their-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowest-in-their-own/#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 } } ] } ```