What is the way to reach the truth – a commendation of Humility

T A L M A C H
so much and simple

St. Augustine, Letters

And here comes the famous passage [Letter 118 § 22, by W. J. SPARROW-SIMPSON] in commendation of Humility: one of the noblest sentences ever written in praise of that most distinctively Christian Value. Dwelling on the thought, What is the way to reach the truth,Augustine writes:

“In that way the first part is humility; the second, humility; the third, humility: and this I would continue to repeat as often as you might ask direction; not that there are no other instructions which may be given, but because, unless humility precede, accompany, and follow every good action which we perform, being at once the object which we keep before our eyes, the support to which we cling, and the monitor by which we are restrained, any good work on which we are congratulating ourselves is wholly wrested from our hand by pride.”