The Lessons Of Humility

Principium autem disciplinae humilitas est, cuius cum multa sint documenta, haec tria praecipue ad lectorem pertinent: primum, ut nullam scientiam, nullam scripturam vilem teneat, secundum, ut a nemine discere erubescat, tertium, ut cum scientiam adeptus fuerit, ceteros non contemnat. multos hoc decipit, quod ante tempus, sapientes videri volunt. hinc namque in quendam elationis tumorem prorumpunt, ut iam et simulare incipiant quod non sunt et quod sunt erubescere, eoque longius a sapientia recedunt quo non esse sapientes, sed putari putant. eiusmodi multos novi, qui, cum primis adhuc elementis indigeant, non nisi summis interesse dignantur, et ex hoc solummodo se magnos fieri putant, si magnorum et sapientium vel scripta legerint vel audierint verba. 'nos,' inquiunt, 'vidimus illos. nos ab illis legimus. saepe nobis loqui illi solebant. illi summi, illi famosi, cognovertunt nos.' sed utinam me nemo agnoscat et ego cuncta noverim! Platonem vidisse, non intellexisse gloriamini. puto indignum vobis est deinceps ut me audiatis. non ego sum Plato, nec Platonem videre merui. sufficit vobis: ipsum philosophiae fontem potastis, sed utinam adhuc sitiretis! rex post aurea pocula de vase bibit testeo. quid erubescitis? Platonem audistis, audiatis et Chrysippum. in proverbio dicitur: Quod tu non nosti, fortassis novit Ofellus. nemo est cui omnia scire datum sit, neque quisquam rursum cui aliquid speciale a natura accepisse non contigerit. prudens igitur lector omnes libenter audit, omnia legit, non scripturam, non personam, non doctrinam spernit. indifferenter ab omnibus quod sibi deesse videt quaerit, nec quantum sciat, sed quantum ignoret, considerat. hinc illud Platonicum aiunt: Malo aliena verecunde discere, quam mea impudenter ingerere. cur enim discere erubescis, et nescire non verecundaris? pudor iste maior est illo. aut quid summa affectas cum tu iaceas in imo? considera potius quid vires tuae ferre valeant. aptissime incedit, qui incedit ordinate. quidam dum magnum saltum facere volunt, praecipitium incidunt. noli ergo nimis festinare. hoc modo citius ad sapientiam pertinges. ab omnibus libenter disce quod tu nescis, quia humilitas commune tibi facere potest quod natura cuique proprium fecit. sapientior omnibus eris, si ab omnibus discere volueris. Hugonis De Sancto Victore, Didascalicon, Lib III, Cap XIV

The beginning of study is humility, of which there are many teachings, these three pertaining most acutely to the student: first, that he hold no knowledge and no writing as worthless; second, that he blush to learn from no man; third, that when he has achieved knowledge that he not despise others. Many are deceived by wishing to appear wise before their time. Because of this they burst out in a certain bloated importance and begin to pretend to be what they are not and to be ashamed of what they are and so they depart further from wisdom the more they think they are thought wise. I have known many like this who although they still lacked the fundamentals of learning yet took interest only in the greatest things, and they thought themselves great if they had merely read the books or heard the words of the great. 'We,' they would say, 'are acquainted with them. We have read them. Often we have conversed with them. Those great ones, those famous ones, they know us.' I would that no one knew me and I knew all things! You glory in having looked at, not in having understood, Plato. Indeed, then, I think it unworthy of you to listen to me. I am not Plato, I have not deserved to meet him. But it's all good for you! You have drunk at the very fount of philosophy. But would that you still were thirsty! ' After a goblet of gold the king drinks from an earthenware cup!' Why do you blush? You have heard Plato! May you hear Chrysippus, too! It is said in the proverb, "What you do not know, perhaps the farmer Ofellus knows." It is given to no one to know all things, and, on the other hand, there is no one who has not received a special talent from nature. Thus the prudent student gladly hears all, reads all, and does not despise any book, or person, or teaching. From all indifferently he seeks what he sees he lacks, not considering how much he knows, but of how much he is ignorant. For this reason men repeat Plato's saying: 'I would prefer to learn with modesty what another says than shamelessly impose myself.' Why do you blush to learn and yet have no shame over your ignorance? The latter is more disgraceful than the former. Why affect the heights when you are lying in the depths? Better that you ponder what your powers will allow you to accomplish. He advances best who advances in good order. Some who wish to make a great leap fall headlong. So do not be too hasty and in this way you will come more quickly to wisdom. Gladly learn from all what you do not know, for humility is able to make you share in that talent which nature has given to another. You will be wiser than all if you are willing to learn from all. Hugh of St Victor, Didascalion, Book 3, Chapter 14