# What Humbles You? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 21, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511 "2023-09-21T23:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/1 "2023-09-21T23:57:35Z")
I read a book [written by a dying woman](https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Happens-Reason-Other-Loved/dp/0399592067), and I’m humbled that she’s writing books while dying (when I finished this one, I saw an advert for yet another book she wrote after it.) Meanwhile I’m like, “my life is too crazy too write right now.” And her book is funny, even. I’m humbled by the way so many people bear their suffering. I’ve always looked up to people like Viktor Frankl, who survived unspeakable horror and came out of it with ideas to help people. But everywhere around me are lesser-known people who have endured things I can’t imagine and they do it with grace and not a lot of complaining. I’m humbled by people who never complain. How do you never complain? I tried not complaining once and it was incredibly difficult. I’m humbled by people always available to help people out. I see this a lot at work. If our shelter is understaffed, there are always one or two people just pouring in extra hours, overnight hours to make sure there’s coverage. There are people everywhere who will drop everything to help you. I’m humbled every time someone asks a physics question on this board. What humbles you? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/2 "2023-09-22T00:26:16Z")
What humbles me? Seeing older folks come to Sunday service, in their finest clothes, because church _is_ their social media. Seeing older Veterans, especially those too old/infirm to walk (let alone stand up), _make the effort_ to get out of their wheelchair when the colors pass by in the downtown parade. There are some people at my present employer that have been here for _forty years_. When they speak, heaaring their knowledge and history, I’m humbled. Tripler Cold War-style history. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/3 "2023-09-22T01:24:57Z")
The sheer size and scope of the universe. I’m of the opinion that there are millions (billions?) of planets orbiting other stars that contain life as complex as here on earth. It’s truly humbling to imagine that level of complexity out there. I feel similarly about genealogy. Just dipping my toe into a few generations offers dozens of potential branches, each full of people with complex and fascinating lives. It’s quite humbling to try to catalogue that lineage. And it reminds me of this: > **[sonder](https://www.dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com/post/23536922667/sonder/amp)** > > n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that... ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/4 "2023-09-22T02:18:33Z")
What Moriarty said, and visualized quite well in the “[Pale Blue Dot](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=567469796&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS768US768&sxsrf=AM9HkKlNghWoJxuMt0MBLjEYrnwc8o5VGw:1695348912610&q=pale+blue+dot+photo&tbm=isch&source=univ&fir=e1q3SqOBThQghM%252C2PSJkoKFuqVoRM%252C_%253BRrFP2Fv5Kxl4iM%252CPu_qnZ_yffM3cM%252C_%253BCdxIpDfw0Gin4M%252Cnlci55I5rlSB3M%252C_%253BundDE5qig7fhcM%252CzjXM9yAzHLw_TM%252C_%253BjTNHUvemJQMZxM%252CCNQUIr2-IqeC7M%252C_%253Bt2nLsx9YGG967M%252CDjj10VlvHPy_eM%252C_%253BKOE_SzQ9CG4q-M%252CZAsWeXgli4-A2M%252C_%253BGvl17REWiAD3AM%252CAdPsPXneXq_LnM%252C_%253BGHgut2n_Gr9EjM%252CUyMfMExEL1suDM%252C_%253BWvNHmAixtqiicM%252CDIn3jHhHv_E9sM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kQpDIETp-Sf76jxWfMnVX_DuVmCxA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjD09Ltkr2BAxVRAjQIHRtwBK8QjJkEegQIDRAC&biw=1680&bih=933)” photo on one scale, and people who are giving and thoughtful in a deliberate way on a more human scale. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/5 "2023-09-22T02:26:10Z")
I’m humbled every time I see people who have been given 1/3 the resources I was given but achieve thrice as much as me. Which is quite often. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/6 "2023-09-22T04:44:02Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > The sheer size and scope of the universe. > > I’m of the opinion that there are millions (billions?) of planets orbiting other stars that contain life as complex as here on earth. > > It’s truly humbling to imagine that level of complexity out there. YES. I enjoy gazing into the night sky, contemplating what Chief Luther Standing Bear called “The Great Mystery.” For me “humbling” is the best word to describe it. And as a non-religious person I’m quite content with marveling at questions which are more powerful than answers. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/7 "2023-09-22T04:57:20Z")
We recently had a death at the Dialysis center. As you’d expect(or not) the people you see 3 times a week become your class mates or peers, or something. When one dies it’s upsetting to everyone. What humbles me is their families thanking everyone for being a friend or caretaker. They are always very nice about it. This last lady who died was Verna. A very sick woman who outlived her life expectations by about 8 mos. Her two daughters brought us a flower each from her casket. I stared at that wilty rose for a week. I finally had to throw it out. I cried like a baby. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/8 "2023-09-22T05:59:27Z")
Really great songwriters and composers. Once in a while I hear a song so great it seems to have almost a magical effect on me. Then I contemplate the fact that some human wrote it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/9 "2023-09-22T06:50:24Z")
My 13-year-old daughter has started learning her fifth language. This makes my brain feel very small. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/10 "2023-09-22T10:55:28Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Really great songwriters and composers. Once in a while I hear a song so great it seems to have almost a magical effect on me. Then I contemplate the fact that some human wrote it. Yes. And musicians in general. Was watching Neil Young last night. Singing, playing guitar and harmonica. Shit. I can’t manage to coerce one song out of my guitar. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/11 "2023-09-22T13:07:55Z")
Everything @Spice_Weasel mentioned in a very well said OP. I get down and frustrated at things in my life that are less than ideal more often than I like to admit, but then I see or hear about people who deal with much worse in their lives than me, with much greater equanimity. And it humbles and slightly embarrasses me. > [@enipla](#): > > Yes. And musicians in general. Was watching Neil Young last night. Singing, playing guitar and harmonica. Shit. I can’t manage to coerce one song out of my guitar. Oh yeah, very much this. I’ll struggle to learn a song riff or a couple fill notes to accentuate my basic campfire-style guitar strumming and feel proud of myself, then listen to a real guitar player or a friend of mine who is light years better, and think “how do they do that?” And my friend feels the same way about his playing- that he’s not as good as (other guitar player). Another guy I know who is maybe the best piano player I ever heard play live in person said that when he saw (famous piano player whose name I forget) play live he was so humbled he gave up the piano for 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/12 "2023-09-22T13:12:11Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > hear a song so great it seems to have almost a magical effect on me. Then I contemplate the fact that some human wrote it. I remember the first time I started playing Live’s _Throwing Copper_ album. I had to be a young teen. But I remember it sounded almost otherworldly. I guess because it put me in a headspace I’d never been before. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/13 "2023-09-22T13:21:44Z")
Yup. My cousin and best friend can play… piano, sax, guitar and banjo (not at the same time 🙂). But her real instrument is her voice. She has a trained voice. We hang out a lot and I used to have a banjo. We would just jam. But it was incredible. She would take the Banjo and tune it, comparing it to her voice. I need an electronic thing-a-ma-jig. Gimme a C, and she would sing the note. And tune accordingly. Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/14 "2023-09-22T13:25:11Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > My cousin and best friend I love that your cousin is your best friend. My Aunt is my best friend. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/15 "2023-09-22T13:59:00Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I love that your cousin is your best friend. Yeah. I’m a week older than she is. We shared a locker in high school. Went to same college. Shared an apartment after that. Now I and my Wife live a 100 miles away, but we are all getting together for lunch tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/16 "2023-09-22T14:49:45Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Yup. My cousin and best friend can play… piano, sax, guitar and banjo (not at the same time > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I love that your cousin is your best friend. Ha, for a second I read that as being two people and I thought “cool, power trio!” I’m dumb 😊 ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/17 "2023-09-23T16:33:11Z")
Enormous respect for those who understand math well enough to work in theoretical physics. I have a good university level general scientific education & can still hack calculus to a certain level… but that’s about the limit. Then there’s music: I’m a pretty competent player on a few instruments, good ear, know my chord theory etc. You could drop me into many gigs and I would hit the ground running. But Bach, Mozart or McCartney… that’s another level. In both cases I’m just good enough to recognize real genius when I encounter it. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/18 "2023-09-25T22:35:30Z")
My Dogs Imperfect ski conditions ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/19 "2023-09-25T22:41:15Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Imperfect ski conditions Do you mean perfectly groomed virgin corduroy rather than your preferred VW-sized bumps? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511/20 "2023-09-25T22:59:23Z")
Now you humble me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-humbles-you/990511.md?page=2)