I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people.

My name can’t be that tough to pronounce!

I’m just like you – I want to be a good human being. I’m doing my best, and I’m working at it. And I’m trying to be a Christian. I’m always amazed when people walk up to me and say, ‚I’m a Christian.‘ I always think, ‚Already? You’ve already got it?‘ I’m working at it. And at my age, I’ll still be working at it at 96.

Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement.

A man may speak very well in the House of Commons, and fail very completely in the House of Lords. There are two distinct styles requisite: I intend, in the course of my career, if I have time, to give a specimen of both.

Say not, ‚I have found the truth,‘ but rather, ‚I have found a truth.‘

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.

The proper study of Man is anything but Man; and the most improper job of any man, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity.

I am not ashamed to confess that I am ignorant of what I do not know.

I’m no genius.

In making a speech one must study three points: first, the means of producing persuasion; second, the language; third the proper arrangement of the various parts of the speech.

Have the humility to learn from those around you.

There’s a belief that you’re supposed to be poor, and suffering, and show your humility. I just don’t see the Bible that way. I see that God came and Jesus died so that we might live an abundant life and be a blessing to others.

It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.

I suppose I am reluctant about being any sort of ‚star‘ and I didn’t particularly want to be portrayed as one.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

An author who speaks about their own books is almost as bad as a mother who speaks about her own children.

Silence is as deep as eternity, speech a shallow as time.

In oratory the will must predominate.

We rarely confide in those who are better than we are.

I am not saying I am the best manager in the world. But I’m quite good.

The best of us must sometimes eat our words.

I’m not a god – I do bad things.

True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.

Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much.

Mr. Attlee is a very modest man. Indeed he has a lot to be modest about.

If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.

Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds. I may be given credit for having blazed the trail, but when I look at the subsequent developments I feel the credit is due to others rather than to myself.

He who knows best knows how little he knows.

Undeserved praise causes more pangs of conscience later than undeserved blame, but probably only for this reason, that our power of judgment are more completely exposed by being over praised than by being unjustly underestimated.

Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.

When Caroline Kennedy managed to say ‚you know‘ more than 200 times in an interview with the New York ‚Daily News,‘ and on 130 occasions while talking to ‚The New York Times‘ during her uninspired attempt to become a hereditary senator, she proved, among other things, that she was (a) middle-aged and (b) middle class.

If anything is good for pounding humility into you permanently, it’s the restaurant business.

Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.

Speech is human, silence is divine, yet also brutish and dead: therefore we must learn both arts.

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.

Joanne‘ is a progression for me. It was about going into the studio and forgetting that I was famous.

The fact that you are willing to say, ‚I do not understand, and it is fine,‘ is the greatest understanding you could exhibit.

I can promise you that when I go to Sacramento, I will pump up Sacramento.

There was my name up in lights. I said, ‚God, somebody’s made a mistake.‘ But there it was, in lights. And I sat there and said, ‚Remember, you’re not a star.‘ Yet there it was up in lights.

I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough in me to confess my errors and to retrace my steps.

I go onstage and I talk, and I remember what I’m saying, and I track it.

I can move any crowd.

Humble people ask for help.

The most successful politician is he who says what the people are thinking most often in the loudest voice.

I’m not a star. I don’t feel I’m so great. So how can I make you feel great just because you’ve got my signature on a piece of paper?

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

Let us be absolutely clear about one thing: we must not confuse humility with false modesty or servility.

I’ve always had to conquer fear when I’m on stage. Basically, I was and still am a very shy person. It’s absolutely in conflict with what I do. But once I deliver the first joke I’m okay. It’s like I’m out there all by myself just delivering my lines to nobody in particular without ever trying to notice the audience in front of me.

I never said I was the best in anything. I never said I’m an icon. The world decides all of that.

I don’t know if I particularly want to be remembered for anything. I personally do not think I’m a great gift to the world. I’ve been very fortunate.

I have never yet seen any plan which has not been mended by the observations of those who were much inferior in understanding to the person who took the lead in the business.

Be the chief but never the lord.

I write all of my own speeches.

People make suggestions on what to say all the time. I’ll give you an example; I don’t read what’s handed to me. People say, ‚Here, here’s your speech, or here’s an idea for a speech.‘ They’re changed. Trust me.

I liked school, but I used to dread those moments when the teacher would call me up to give an oral report. I forced myself to deal with it and not dwell on the class in front of me – to keep a straight face, give the report and concentrate on getting it right. That’s normally how I perform. That’s how I am.

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

Humility may well be one of the most difficult of the fruit of the Spirit to be cultivated in us – and to maintain. That’s because without humility, it’s not likely that you will put your complete trust in God.

Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.

I’m not intelligent. I’m not arrogant. I’m just like the people who read my books. I used to have a jazz club, and I made the cocktails and I made the sandwiches. I didn’t want to become a writer – it just happened.