Question

Write an essay on humility

Answer 1

 Humility

Put aside the spotlight and learn to say "thank you."

T

Trinh Ha

Apr 5, 2016

In a world where it seems as though pride is handed through the pleats of colored ribbons, medals, and framed papers of accomplishment, being humble can be hard. As little kids we’re taught to do nothing but climb the ladder of success, we put one foot above the other and visualize our future self with a bolded title of “you made it!”, and we forget that most of the time we owe our success to the people around us. I’ve been in countless offices where framed diplomas hang - reflecting that person’s hard work and countless caffeinated nights, my friends have walls of soccer/swimming/debate awards, each stacked from year-to-year like a yearbook of past nerves and screaming joy, and even my own room is plagued with awards as little as perfect attendance to a crisp graduation diploma from high school.

However, it’s tantalizing to remember that varsity jacket letters, glassy plaques, and metallic awards won’t mean much if you lack humility. If someone tells you “good job” or “congrats”, do you take it as a chance to explain your own achievement to revel in the glory just one more time, or do you say a deep-rooted thank you? Victories and songs of triumph feel good when they’re done with the image of you. Everyone knows it and craves it all too well: the rush of adrenaline pumping through your body pairs perfectly with the way the lights are lit up with your name, and it’s you you you for the few eccentric moments of glory of whatever you’re doing. Maybe it’s your last race of the season, or getting the best grade on an anticipated speech in front of your class, or finally getting that job promotion. With each success, it’s not your perseverance nor your talent that’s only being tested, but it’s your humility as well.

Answer 2

Humility is politeness or humbleness. It is a great virtue of human character. A humble man is liked and respected by all. Now we see the world as a place of hurry and keen competition. Here everyone vaunts of his own knowledge and power to cry down others. But humility is a virtue that denies one the pleasures of such self-exultation. Now we see rivalry of nations endangering the peace and tranquility everywhere. However much of these evil instincts may disappear, if the great virtue of humility is cultivated by us. We are fortunate that we do not find head on clashes among people of the great nations. But it is the great virtue of humility which has played this role. It is the sense of humbleness and a spirit of accommodation that is preventing wars or communal clashes at random.

Indian tradition is that education imparts humility. One is never considered educated if one feels proud of his knowledge and vaunts it too often. It is the highest virtue that a student can possess. For it endears him to his teachers and makes him reverential. Humility teaches us to follow the rule of the road and take our turns mildly in a queue. It is the greatest test of a gentleman–never to be proud of his blue blood or education.

We see perfect test of humility in the life of a true Vaishnava. He surpasses a tree in tolerance and lies lower than the grass we tread on. Sweet words, smiling face, avoidance of vanity and sophistry lie at the root of humility and it must be cultivated in student life.