St. Josemaria’s 17 Signs of a Lack of Humility
- 1: Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say
- 2: Always wanting to get your own way
- 3: Arguing when you are not right or — when you are — insisting stubbornly or with bad manners
- 4: Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so
- 5: Despising the point of view of others
- 6: Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan
- 7: Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own
- 8: Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation
- 9: Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you
- 10: Making excuses when rebuked
- 11: Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you
- 12: Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you
- 13: Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you
- 14: Refusing to carry out menial tasks
- 15: Seeking or wanting to be singled out
- 16: Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige…
- 17: Being ashamed of not having certain possessions
Benjamin Franklin's List of Virtues Which he Attempted to Master
- TEMPERANCE: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
- SILENCE: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
- ORDER: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
- RESOLUTION: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
- FRUGALITY: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
- INDUSTRY: Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
- SINCERITY: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
- JUSTICE: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
- MODERATION: Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
- CLEANLINESS: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
- TRANQUILLITY: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- CHASTITY: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
- HUMILITY: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
