contempt

Consideration on Humility Towards Oneself

Richard of St. Victor [lib. 2, chap. xxiii, De Epul. inter Hom.] defines humility as the inner contempt of oneself. Examine Whether you have this little feeling towards yourself. When You have dreams of dignity and honor, and you imagine yourself in the midst of grandeur and chimerical honors, how do you behave in vain These proud and imaginings? Do you rejoice and delight in them, desiring to dwell in them more and more? If we love humility we must treat of worldly These Dreams ambition and pride with disdain and hatred, just as love chastity Those who treat impure thoughts. We ought to pray Malthus with King David: "Let not the foot of pride eat unto me," Because pride first Enters into the soul through the thoughts of the mind, and I who accustoms himself to delight in These thoughts have Already Formed the bad habit of pride in his heart.