Thomas Merton Quotes

I try not to be proud. I try to actively attack pride.

If I had only one sermon to preach it would be a sermon against pride.

The only cure for vanity is laughter, and the only fault that is laughable is vanity.

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

Pride is a thing that I have tried to abandon completely. Try as I might, pride still creeps into many of the things I do.

Self-deprecation is not the answer to humility.

I've seen people, when they get into these bigger and bigger jobs, it goes to their heads. I've seen it. Some people in life change who they are, and some don't. I'm basically the same guy I've always been.

I don't choose to be humble.

Modesty is my best quality.

Once there was a boy so meek and modest, he was awarded a Most Humble badge. The next day, it was taken away because he wore it. Here endeth the lesson.

One may be humble out of pride.

I think it's one of the scars in our culture that we have too high an opinion of ourselves. We align ourselves with the angels instead of the higher primates.

I don't wanna sound pretentious talking about myself.

I said I was 'The Greatest,' I never said I was the smartest!

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.

A little humility never hurts.

Humility's a real thing - not just a fine name for laziness.

I might have faults but I'm not a big head.

On occasions I have been big-headed. I think most people are when they get in the limelight. I call myself Big Head just to remind myself not to be.

I don't have an ego; I'm not egotistical or anything like that.

Let us be absolutely clear about one thing: we must not confuse humility with false modesty or servility.

My ego and my vanities have nothing to do with comedy.

I am not the humblest person in the world. I admit that.

I was a young, new, hot star, and I had this unbelievable arrogance. As time went on, the strident narcissism and arrogance slowly diminished. But I was definitely there. I'm older now. And a big crybaby.

I don't take myself seriously, and I think the ones that do, there's some sickness with people like that.