Saint Thomas Aquinas on Humility

Saint Thomas Aquinas' teaching on the virtue of humility, from the Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part, question 161. For St. Thomas Aquinas, humility is the virtue that restrains the soul from reaching beyond its proper measure, keeping one grounded in truth about oneself in relation to God and others. In the Summa Theologica (II–II, q.161), he teaches that humility moderates the desire for excellence, not by denying genuine gifts or abilities, but by recognizing that all good comes from God and should be ordered toward Him. True humility does not mean self-deprecation or ignoring one’s talents, but rather acknowledging one’s limitations, submitting oneself to God, and placing the good of others above prideful ambition. Aquinas also emphasizes that humility prepares the soul for greater graces, since “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”The Summa Theologica, written by St. Thomas Aquinas between 1265 and 1274, is one of the most influential works of Christian theology and philosophy, intended as a comprehensive guide to the main teachings of the Catholic faith. Structured in a systematic, question-and-answer format, it addresses God’s existence and nature, creation, humanity, ethics, Christ, the sacraments, and salvation. Aquinas organizes each topic by raising objections, presenting authoritative counterpoints, and then giving his own reasoned response, blending Scripture, Church tradition, and Aristotelian philosophy. Though unfinished at his death, the Summa remains a cornerstone of Catholic theology, valued both for its clarity and for its method of engaging faith and reason in dialogue.