He who speaks without modesty¹ will find it difficult to make his words good.

Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC), The Confucian Analects

The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue³" target="_blank">virtue².

Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC), The Confucian Analects

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC), The Confucian Analects

Modesty is the citadel⁴ of beauty.

Demades

I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty... But I am too busy thinking about myself.

Edith Sitwell (1887 - 1964), As quoted in The Observer (30 April 1950)

Humility⁶ is no substitute for a good personality.

Fran Lebowitz (1950 - ), Metropolitan⁷ Life, 1978

Life is a long lesson in humility.

James M. Barrie (1860 - 1937)

The loss of one's dignified⁸ bearing is often sudden.

Jerry Van Amerongen, Ballard Street, 09-02-06

Be modest! It is the kind of pride least likely to offend.

Jules Renard (1864 - 1910)

In America, they want you to accomplish these great feats⁹, to pull off these David Copperfield-type stunts¹⁰. You want me to be great, but you don't ever want me to say I'm great?

Kanye West, Rolling Stone, 2006

You couldn't be that good and not know it, somewhere in your secret heart, however much you'd been abused into affecting public humility.

Lois McMaster Bujold, A Civil Campaign, 1999

Modesty is a shining light; it prepares the mind to receive knowledge, and the heart for truth.

Madam Guizot

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.

Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

I am no more humble¹¹ than my talents require.

Oscar Levant (1906 - 1972)

If I only had a little humility, I'd be perfect.

Ted⁵ Turner

It well becomes a young man to be modest.

Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC)

In peace there's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility.

William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)