A realistic sense of one's limits and importance, joined with openness to others.
Reach for it when praising grounded self-knowledge rather than self-belittlement
Scientific humility led the group to publish what the study could not establish.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
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| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
playful
beginner's mind
Fits when curiosity and release of expertise suit an informal reflective context
Careful The borrowed philosophical phrase can be superficial when detached from its tradition.
everyday
groundedness
Fits when a stable, realistic sense of self is central
Careful Groundedness can describe calm practicality without any relation to pride.
everyday
Fits when restraint in talking about one's achievements is meant
Careful Modesty concerns presentation and can hide private arrogance.
warm
humbleness
Fits when the familiar personal quality is being named directly
Careful Humbleness is less natural in polished prose and can imply low status.
professional
teachability
Fits when willingness to learn and revise is the practical virtue
Careful Teachability is one result of humility, not the whole quality.
formal
unpretentiousness
Fits when lack of display or social affectation deserves praise
Careful Unpretentious style does not guarantee openness to being wrong.
literary
self-effacement
Fits when deliberately staying out of the spotlight is intended
Careful Self-effacement can become unhealthy erasure and is not required by humility.
show humility
Strong leaders show humility by changing course when the evidence changes.
intellectual humility
Intellectual humility makes disagreement safer and inquiry sharper.
humility and courage
The apology required both humility and courage.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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