Grimms' Fairy Tales Humility Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Tale.Page)

Quote #4

"Flounder, flounder, in the sea, if you're a man, then speak to me. Though I do not care for my wife's request, I've come to ask it nonetheless." "Well, what does she want?" the flounder asked. "Oh," he said, "she wants to be like God." "Go back home. She's sitting in your hovel again." (The Fisherman and His Wife.72-73)

The lesson here? Be content with what you have, or it'll all be taken away. By a magical talking fish.

Quote #5

[The] Virgin Mary appeared before her and said, "If you'll tell me the truth and confess that you unlocked the forbidden door, I'll open your mouth and give you back the power of speech. If you persist in your sin and stubbornly deny it, I shall take your newborn baby away with me." (The Virgin Mary's Child.9)

And yet another lesson. This time, it's be humble and confess your sins, or bad stuff will happen. And when it's the Virgin Mary who's telling you this, well you'd better shut up and listen.

Quote #6

"Can you tell me how to get to heaven?" "By poverty and humility," the old man answered. "Put on my tattered clothes, wander about the world for seven years, and learn all about its misery. Do not take any money, but when you're hungry, ask for a piece of bread from kindhearted people. This is how you'll find the way to heaven." (Poverty and Humility Lead to Heaven.588)

The title says it all.