Yes, pride is blind; it doesn't see itself. Pride is a devilish invention. Its offspring are: anger, slander, irritability, hypocrisy, hatred, contradiction, insubordination. It firmly insists on its own opinion, has difficulty submitting to others, cannot tolerate criticism, yet loves to criticize others, utters words thoughtlessly, lacks patience, is devoid of love, is insolent even to the point of insult, and strives for power. The proud suffer greatly from blasphemous thoughts. I wrote briefly, based on patristic teaching.
Now I will speak of humility. O blessed Humility, you are divine, for you bowed the heavens and became incarnate in humanity, and nailed the sins of the entire world to the Cross. My soul trembles, how can I speak of your greatness?
The divinely wise holy fathers speak of humility as follows: it produces meekness, kindness, tenderness, mercy, quietness, and submissiveness. The humble are not inquisitive about incomprehensible matters; but the proud seek to probe the depths of God's judgments. The humble do not boast of their natural gifts and disdain human praise. It is as if they were dressed in silk, and if tar were sprinkled on them, they would run away so as not to stain their precious garments. Thus the humble flee human glory.
A characteristic of humility is to see one's own sins and the good qualities of others. Pride, on the other hand, is characterized by seeing only the good in oneself and only the bad in others. Here is another characteristic of humility: simplicity, frankness, and naturalness. But what humility is and how it is born in the soul, no one can explain in words unless one learns it from experience. This cannot be learned from words alone. Abba Zosima spoke about humility, and a learned sophist was listening. He said to the elder, "How can you consider yourself a sinner? Don't you know that you are holy? Don't you know that you have virtues? After all, you see how you fulfill the commandments—and yet you consider yourself a sinner?" The elder was at a loss for words and only said, "I don't know what to say to you, but I consider myself a sinner." The sophist persisted, wanting to know how this could be. Then the elder again did not know what to say, and said with his holy simplicity: “Do not confuse me, I truly consider myself to be like this.”
Abba Dorotheus was there and explained to the sophist: just as in the sciences there is a certain skill that one cannot explain, so it is with humility. Abba Zosima embraced him and said: "You have grasped the matter; it happens just as you said." The sophist was pleased and agreed with them.
Of the many things I have written, a little; whoever wants to know a lot and in detail can read it in the Philokalia.
January 24, 1956
New Valaam
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