The True Meaning of Humility and Its Characteristics
The Essence of Humility in a Prideful Society
In a society that prioritizes pride and achievement, humility often goes unnoticed. People frequently discuss who is humble and who is not, but what is the real meaning of having humility? What do people intend to express when they describe someone as humble? Humility can be understood as the quality of a person who remains respectful, modest, and avoids arrogance.
The Etymology of Humility: From Earth to Groundedness
Understanding the word humility begins with its history. This term evolved from the Latin humilitas and humilis, which mean “lowly” or “humble.” Crucially, the root of “humility” is the Latin word humus, which means earth or ground.
This connection with the earth is key to understanding the concept of humility as having a grounded and unpretentious perspective, rather than feeling superior. The history of the word supports the idea of being a modest person who does not feel superior to others.
Characteristics of a Truly Humble Person
People want to be surrounded by individuals who possess genuine humility. These are the types of people who:
- Do not feel they are better than others, even if they are highly accomplished.
- Can admit mistakes, acknowledge when they are wrong, apologize, and are open to feedback without defensiveness.
- Recognize their limits and are not afraid to ask for help.
- Show generosity, empathy, and compassion toward others.
- Do not focus excessively on themselves; instead, they focus on others.
- Are able to appreciate someone else’s work, job, or achievement instead of belittling them.
- Are open-minded, receptive to new ideas and perspectives, and accept that there is always more to learn.
- View challenges and failures as opportunities to learn and grow.
These are the types of people everyone wants near them—the ones who embody humility.
Humility in Practice: The Example of Lionel Messi
It is challenging for famous individuals to maintain humility, as new privileges like money or attention can sometimes lead to arrogance. These privileges—having many followers, widespread adoration, or the ability to afford expensive items like cars, houses, trips, or watches—can make people feel superior.
One clear example of humility among famous figures is Lionel Messi, the football player who has played for Inter Miami, Barcelona, and PSG. Considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, he maintains a reputation for being humble and modest off the field.
Why Messi is Considered Humble
Messi’s personality may stem from the hard challenges he faced during his childhood, which fostered gratitude toward the people around him. His humility is evident in his attitude:
- He rarely responds to provocations during matches or speaks poorly of opponents afterward.
- When Argentina won the World Cup, despite being the biggest star, Messi shared the credit with his teammates and expressed gratitude for the team’s supporters.
- He established the Leo Messi Foundation, which helps improve access to education and healthcare for vulnerable children.
For these reasons, Lionel Messi is considered a humble man and a role model both inside and outside the soccer field. His actions and modest demeanor characterize him as someone who avoids arrogant behavior.
Defining Humility Through Negation
Humility can also be described by what it avoids. A humble person:
- Avoids arrogance.
- Does not seek recognition for achievements.
- Refrains from centering attention on oneself.
- Shows no fear of being wrong.
- Does not resist learning new things from others.
- Does not diminish the value of friends or other people.
- Does not place one’s own worth above others, nor feel superior.
- Does not close themselves off to new ideas.
These qualities reflect the definition of humility as the quality of a person who remains respectful, modest, and avoids arrogance.
Conclusion: The Definition of Humility
After examining the etymology of the word, enumerating the characteristics of a humble person, providing an example like Lionel Messi, and describing humility through negation, we can conclude that humility is defined as the quality of a person who is respectful, modest, and does not feel superior to others, nor behave like an arrogant person.