Humility in the Manger

A humble man can do great things with an uncommon perfection because he is no longer concerned about incidentals, like his own interests and his own reputation, and therefore he no longer needs to waste his efforts in defending them.

For a humble man is not afraid of failure. In fact, he is not afraid of anything, even of himself, since perfect humility implies perfect confidence in the power of God, before Whom no other power has any meaning and for whom there is no such thing as an obstacle.

Humility is the surest sign of strength.

Thomas Merton, Humility Against Despair, in New Seeds of Contemplation