Chapter V. Of humility

There is no solid virtue without humility. One who is truly humble must comport himself like a little child, or a public slave, or a convicted impostor ; that is to say, he must behave with simplicity like a child, depend on all the world like a slave, take shame to himself like an impostor whose tricks have been discovered.

Humility and patience are, so to say, the shoulders of charity, inasmuch as they carry its burdens.

The root of humility is the knowledge of God ; for it is impossible to know and feel our own vileness, except by reference to something great with which we may compare it. It is in vain that we think of the little that is in us ; we shall never be any the more humble, unless we compare it with the infinite perfections of God. It is thus that savages who inhabit forests are insensible to the wretchedness of their condition, until they come to know the manner of life of civilised people, who dwell in towns in the midst of every sort of accommodation ; and so a poor villager will never have any true idea of his poverty, until he has seen the mansions of the rich and the palaces of princes.

We may endure contempt from different motives : 1. from a sense of the vanity of human esteem, for in truth the honour and esteem of men is nothing but vanity ; 2. from a motive of humility, because we deserve every kind of disgrace ; 3. from a motive of fidelity, which constrains us to render to God what belongs to Him, and to Him alone belong honour and glory ; 4. from a motive of love and gratitude, inasmuch as our Lord clothed Himself with ignominies, and consecrated contempt and abjection in His Adorable Person.