One can preserve human dignity by consciously resisting pride, cultivating humility and a sober self-assessment, and not allowing oneself to get carried away in the constant pursuit of praise from others.

Cultivating Humility: The Path to Preserving Human Dignity

One can preserve human dignity by consciously resisting pride, cultivating humility and a sober self-assessment, and not allowing oneself to get carried away in the constant pursuit of praise from others. Two key approaches are essential in this process.

Firstly, one must learn to restrain both words and thoughts so as not to fuel vanity. One text advises: “And this is how life goes by. We want to be in the limelight—to receive praise, to have our heads patted. Yet that is disgraceful. For that which is exalted among people is abomination before God. Therefore, if we strive to earn praise from people, if we try to please them, it is an abomination before God. Hence, we must correct this.

How do we rid ourselves of vanity?

There are two mutually dependent methods. The first is to learn to be silent, because we chiefly indulge our vanity by talking too much. That is why all vain people are usually chatty. We must strive to notice this in ourselves and hold our tongue. The second is to constantly admonish ourselves. As soon as a vain thought comes to mind, one must immediately say: ‘Lord, forgive me, wretched one,’ and recall one’s sins.” (source: link txt)

Secondly, in order to counteract pride, one should constantly reflect on profound humility. This means consciously accepting one’s place in the world, recognizing that all achievements are merely gifts and temporary, while true value lies in the readiness to serve others rather than to exalt oneself above them. As stated in another source: “To eradicate pride, we must, with utmost attentiveness and heartfelt participation, reflect upon the profound humility of the Son of God and learn humility from Him. Sincerely prefer others to yourself. Consider yourself the most ungrateful and the most insignificant of all people; if you wish to be truly wise, then with great joy agree to perform for God duties that, in the eyes of the world, are the lowliest. With great joy desire to be the servant of all people.” (source: link txt)

It is also important to remember the warning that reminds us of the transience of human existence: “Do not exalt yourself above the clouds. Do not be proud, man, for you are dust and ashes! Whatever you raise your brows, soon decay will take it away?” (source: link txt) This thought helps maintain a rational attitude toward one’s accomplishments and reminds us that excessive self-exaltation only makes us vulnerable to our own weaknesses.

Thus, the preservation of human dignity, despite manifestations of pride, is achieved through self-restraint, constant self-criticism, and an active pursuit of humility. Renouncing an excessive desire for praise and recognizing that all gifts and achievements are temporary allows us to focus on inner strength and the true worth of the human being.