“..under no circumstances whatsoever should we assume any attitude except that of gentleness and humility.” 

Humbleness

Being humble, is about taking on an attitude of learning. We’re not perfect, but we’re constantly striving to do better, not by competing with others, but by looking at our own ‘gifts’ and improving on them. 

“Take heed lest excessive reading and too many acts of piety in the daytime and in the night season make you vainglorious.” (Bahá’u’lláh, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 225)

“Pride not yourselves in your glory, and be not ashamed of abasement. By My beauty! I have created all things from dust, and to dust will I return them again.” (Bahá’u’lláh, The Persian Hidden Words 48)

 “Blessed are the learned that pride not themselves on their attainments; and well is it with the righteous that mock not the sinful, but rather conceal their misdeeds, so that their own shortcomings may remain veiled to men’s eyes.”  (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 315)

“O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself. Humility exalteth man to the heaven of glory and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation.” Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 64

 “Beware that ye allow not … pride and conceit to deter you from turning unto the poor and the desolate.” (Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 53)

 “..under no circumstances whatsoever should we assume any attitude except that of gentleness and humility.” (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 127)

“As there is no one who has not his designated place in the world, for there is nothing useless on this earth, we must treat each individual with respect and affection, for each is a sign of the divine favour and power - that power which has been able to draw such a being out of matter, make of him a creature with sensorial faculties and endow him with intellectual and spiritual potentiality. This is one of the visible proofs of the divine power. Let us respect these living proofs”. (Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 58

The glorification of self, the exaltation of one’s limited knowledge, the lust for power, and the compulsion to force matters in the direction of one’s personal choosing, are nothing more than expressions of childlike whims and cause of personal degradation and decline.

“No one should glorify himself over another; no one should manifest pride or superiority toward another; no one should look upon another with scorn and contempt; and no one should deprive or oppress a fellow creature.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 62)

 “People make much profession of goodness, multiplying fine words because they wish to be thought greater and better than their fellows, seeking fame in the eyes of the world….Those who do the most good, use fewest words concerning their actions.  The children of God do the works without boasting, obeying His laws.”  Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 17

“O Lord, help me to be meek and lowly, and strengthen me in severing myself from all things and in holding to the hem of the garment of Thy glory, so that my heart may be filled with Thy love and leave no space for love of the world and attachment to its qualities.” Baha'i Prayers - Abdu'l-Baha