Category Archives: humility

Growing great simply

Impresario Sol Hurok said that Marian Anderson, one of the most celebrated opera singers of the century, hadn’t simply grown great, she’d grown great simply. He said: ‘A few years ago a reporter asked her to name the greatest moment … Continue reading

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Describing the fragrance of a rose

The Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu used to say: ‘Those who know, do not say; and those who say, do not know.’ It makes me think of the intellectual arrogance of those who so quickly ridicule the faith that has sustained countless … Continue reading

Posted in Arrogance, Beauty, Bigotry, God, humility | Tagged | Leave a comment

Taking ourselves too seriously

Human beings have an amazing capacity for taking the noblest ideals and then twisting them to produce the very opposite. Years ago, a large statue of Christ was erected on the border between Argentina and Chile. Called “Christ of the … Continue reading

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Surrounded by the miraculous

The poet Walt Whitman once said that we are surrounded by the miraculous but don’t recognise it. Science has increased our sense of awe, as it unfolds the marvels of the Universe; but many assume that because we know how … Continue reading

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Victoria’s not-so-secret

Queen Victoria once held a reception in honour of an African chieftain. He’d never seen a finger bowl before and when was set before him he picked it up and drank its contents. The cream of British society sat aghast … Continue reading

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Humility is the key

Jesus began his famous Sermon on the Mount by saying: ‘Humble men are very fortunate, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.’ Those words are the key to his teachings, especially those qualities we call the Beatitudes. You … Continue reading

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‘A spirit manifest in the laws of the Universe

When Albert Einstein put forward his theory of relativity, the thing that bothered him was that his equations indicated that the universe was expanding, and therefore must have had a beginning. It was not until Edwin Hubble showed that the … Continue reading

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Clothed with kindness

Researchers from the University of Utah found there’s a price to pay when couples don’t get along. They found that women who buried anger were more likely to succumb to heart disease than wives who were vocal, and that women … Continue reading

Posted in Abundant life, Compassion, Gentleness, Healing, humility, Kindness, Patience, relationships | Leave a comment

‘We could not afford to lose a voice like that’

Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras were once on opposite sides of the political divide so much so that Carreras refused to appear on the same stage as Domingo. But then he contracted leukemia and almost went bankrupt paying for treatments. … Continue reading

Posted in Actions, Acts of Kindness, Generous spirit, Gratitude, Greatness, humility, Nobility | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Proving myself before advertising myself

I was taught the importance of proving myself before advertising myself. However, the current emphasis on self confidence seems to have had the opposite effect. A recent survey discovered that seventy percent of students rated themselves as above average leaders … Continue reading

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