In Flannery O’Connor’s short story Revelation, the protagonist, Mrs. Ruby Turpin, sits in a doctor’s waiting room, judging others around her. She perceives herself as superior, often criticizing others based on their appearance, social status, and demeanor. For instance, she refers to a college-aged girl as “fat” and “ugly” while proudly declaring that she has “always had good skin.” She views a mother and son pair as “white trashy” and praises another woman for being well-dressed, stating that her red and gray shoes match her dress.
Mrs. Turpin’s thoughts reveal a troubling mix of racism and classism. She expresses pride in her status and often believes that her life is better than others. For example, she thanks Jesus for her “good disposition” and for making her life the way it is, convinced that it “could have been different.”
This attitude illustrates the absence of humility, a virtue that involves recognizing our limitations. Philosopher Nancy Snow defines humility as “the disposition to allow the awareness of and concern about one’s limitations to realistically influence one’s attitude and behavior.” Humility means understanding our weaknesses, acknowledging that we are dependent on others, and avoiding an exaggerated sense of self-worth. It allows us to remain teachable and aware of our faults.
While pride, which opposes humility, is easier to identify, humility is much harder to master. There are three key reasons for this difficulty.
1. Confusion about Humility
Culturally, humility is often misunderstood. Many people confuse it with being overly modest or downplaying their abilities. In reality, this self-deprecation is a vice, as it involves an inaccurate assessment of one’s abilities. Genuine humility doesn’t require denying one’s strengths but rather recognizing them in context.
2. Our Limits Change
Humility requires us to understand our limits, which can evolve over time. For instance, an athlete’s abilities may fluctuate depending on factors like training, age, or fatigue. Without regularly assessing our capabilities, it’s easy to misjudge our limitations, either overestimating or underestimating them.
3. The Appeal of Pride
Pride also offers an enticing narrative. Take, for example, Lance Armstrong, who, after years of denial, admitted to doping during his career as a professional cyclist. In a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong explained that he became “swept up in the momentum of his own legend.” The desire to maintain superiority and protect his image led him to cheat, even at the cost of his reputation and the sport.
This illustrates the allure of pride: it creates a powerful story that places us above others. It feels good to believe we are better, making it easy to get caught up in that narrative.
In conclusion, while humility is challenging, it is a vital virtue. It helps us appreciate others, stay open to learning, and avoid the damaging effects of arrogance. Cultivating humility, though difficult, is well worth the effort.
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