Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to

"Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation." Thus spoke Saint Augustine, the great thinker of the early Church, whose words rise like a cathedral of wisdom through the centuries. In this teaching, he unveils the eternal law of both nature and spirit: that true greatness is born not from pride, but from humility, and that before one may ascend toward the heavens, one must first be rooted deeply in the earth.

Saint Augustine, who once wandered through the shadows of ambition and desire before finding his way to faith, understood this truth through the fire of experience. As a young man, he sought greatness in eloquence, fame, and knowledge — he wished to construct a lofty fabric upon the fragile soil of self. Yet when his world of intellect and indulgence began to crumble, he saw that greatness without virtue collapses like a tower without foundation. It was then that he turned to the divine, and learned that before the soul may rise in glory, it must first bow in humility. His words, therefore, are not mere doctrine — they are confession and revelation.

The foundation of humility, Augustine tells us, is the beginning of all enduring greatness. Just as the builder who dreams of a tall tower must dig deep into the ground before laying his stones, so too must the one who seeks greatness lay the groundwork of modesty, patience, and self-knowledge. To be humble is not to be weak; it is to be wise — to recognize that true power is sustained not by arrogance, but by the quiet strength of integrity. The river that flows most deeply makes the least noise; the tree that reaches highest roots itself deepest. The same law governs the soul of man.

Consider the life of Abraham Lincoln, whose greatness in leadership was founded upon profound humility. He was not born into privilege or ease, but into hardship and toil. His beginnings were lowly, his means limited, yet he never sought glory for its own sake. He once said, “I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” His humility allowed him to learn, to listen, to grow — and in time, to guide a divided nation toward unity. The lofty fabric of his legacy stands to this day, built upon the deep foundation of a humble heart.

In this teaching, Augustine also reveals a paradox that the wise have always known: that the path upward begins downward. The mountain’s peak is unreachable without first entering the valley; the soul cannot rise to light unless it first descends into truth. Those who seek greatness through pride rise quickly, but like towers built on sand, they soon fall. Those who seek it through humility rise slowly, but their ascent endures. For humility gives the soul weight, stability, and grace — it anchors greatness in reality, keeping it from being swept away by the storms of vanity.

The ancients, too, saw this law reflected in all things. The builders of temples and pyramids laid their stones upon deep foundations, knowing that the mightiest structures could not stand without hidden strength. Likewise, the philosophers of Greece taught that the wise man must first know himself — his limits, his ignorance, his smallness — before he could know the world. Humility, in every age, has been the cornerstone of enlightenment and the seed of greatness. It is not submission to weakness, but harmony with truth.

So, my child, if you desire to be great, begin not by reaching for the sky, but by deepening your roots. Cultivate humility as the soil from which all virtues grow. Speak less of yourself and listen more. Admit when you are wrong, and be grateful for correction. Seek wisdom not to be admired, but to be useful. The proud may dazzle for a season, but the humble endure through ages, for their greatness is not theirs alone — it rests upon truth, upon goodness, upon the eternal.

For as Saint Augustine teaches, the higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation. If you would build a life of meaning, dig deep. Let your humility be your anchor, and your greatness will rise like a mountain — steady, silent, and immovable. For in humility lies the secret of all power, the root of all wisdom, and the soul’s surest path to heaven.