Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most
people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person,
who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will
think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real
interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you
feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not
be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.
If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first
step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too.
At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not
conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.
