Bernard of Clairvaux Quotes

I don't need to pat myself on the back until my arm breaks. I don't need any of that.

One may be humble out of pride.

I'm never in my life going to do a record that's a tribute to myself. I don't need it.

Nothing ought more to humiliate men who have merited great praise than the care they still take to boast of little things.

At my funeral, if one said, 'Nick was a generous person,' trust me I won't be doing cartwheels in my coffin. Recognition from people is never and never will be a goal. Some people strive for that respect or honor. Living a life to just reach for the position and status is vanity and sin.

Virtue would go far if vanity did not keep it company.

The delicate balance between modesty and conceit is popularity.

Tooting my own horn is of no interest to me... it takes you away from real life. It's a waste, and I don't find a need to sing my own praises.

Nothing so soothes our vanity as a display of greater vanity in others; it make us vain, in fact, of our modesty.

A vain man finds it wise to speak good or ill of himself; a modest man does not talk of himself.

What hypocrites we seem to be whenever we talk of ourselves! Our words sound so humble, while our hearts are so proud.

If I have to go around telling everyone how great I am, then there's something wrong with my act.

If you are the greatest, why would you go around talking about it?

When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Self-deprecation is not the answer to humility.

People say to me, 'You're a genius; you're great.' I don't know if I'll ever feel that way about myself. Some things, I feel like, are better left for other people to say, and I'm just not into, like, tooting my own horn or bragging or anything.

I'd be pretty saddened to hear anyone say, 'Yeah, listen to this... God, I'm awesome, the way this all sits together,' about their own work.

I don't choose to be humble.

I don't like false modesty.

Men of real merit, and whose noble and glorious deeds we are ready to acknowledge, are yet not to be endured when they vaunt their own actions.

Those possest of the greatest Virtues are always least pleas'd with the repetition of them.

The authors who affect contempt for a name in the world put their names to the books which they invite the world to read.

Every man who praises himself brushes the luster from his best efforts.

Discourses on humility are a source of pride in the vain and of humility in the humble.