True humility is intelligent self respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves. It makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be.

Sockman redefines humility as a form of clear-sighted self-knowledge: “intelligent self respect” rejects the twin distortions of arrogance and self-loathing. Humility, in this view, is not thinking less of oneself but thinking accurately—measuring oneself against one’s potential and ideals. The second sentence links modesty to moral aspiration: awareness of “how far we have come short” is meant to motivate growth rather than induce shame. The quote thus treats humility as a stabilizing virtue that preserves dignity while keeping the self open to correction, learning, and ethical development.