Letter 838: True humility is not the absence of accomplishment but the refusal to boast about it.

To Poimenios. On humility. We shall ascend to the summit of humility (for I would define this not as a descent but as an ascent), if we quench the deadly swelling of arrogance and the inflammation of boastfulness that drags one down into Hades, and if in all things we practice moderation, and overlook nothing, on the grounds that we shall not be harmed by attending to it. For the soul is accustomed to follow what is done, and by its nature it is molded and shaped toward the things it pursues. Therefore let our very bearing be dignified, our gaze gentle, our brow composed, our gait unhurried, our clothing serviceable, our seat lowly, our food plain, our bedding no better than need requires, our furnishings fitted out for frugality, and our house befitting Christians; and indeed let our speech and voice too, and our conversation with our neighbors, look toward moderation rather than toward inflamed pride. For thus, practicing moderation in all things, we shall ascend to the heavenly summit.

(14) Εἰς τὴν τῆς ταπεινοφροσύνης κορυφὴν ἀναβησόμεθα (οὐ γὰρ ἂν κατάβασιν, ἀλλ᾿ ἀνάβασιν ταύτην ἔγωγε ὁρισαίμην), εἰ τὴν ὀλέθριον τῆς ὑπερηφανίας ὄγκον, καὶ τὴν εἰς ᾅδου καταβιβάζουσαν τῆς ἀλαζονείας φλεγμονὴν σβέσοιμεν, καὶ διὰ πάντων ἀσχοῖμεν τὸ μέτριον, καὶ μηδὲν παρίδωμεν, ὡς οὐ παρὰ τοῦτο βλαθησόμενοι (15). Τοῖς γὰρ πραττομένοις ἀκολουθεῖν εἴωθεν ἡ ψυχή, καὶ πρὸς ἃ ἐπιτηδεύει, τυποῦσθαί τε καὶ σχηματίζεσθαι πέφυκεν. Οὐκοῦν ἔστω ἡμῖν καὶ σχῆμα σεμνόν, καὶ βλέμμα ἥμερον, καὶ ὀφρὺς κατεσταλμένη, καὶ βάδισμα μὴ σεσοβημένον, καὶ ἱμάτιον χρειῶδες, καὶ καθέδρα ταπεινή, καὶ τροφὴ λιτή, καὶ στρωμνὴ μὴ τῆς χρείας κρείττων, καὶ ἔπιπλα πρὸς εὐτέλειαν ἠσκημένα, καὶ οἶκος πρέπων Χριστιανοῖς, καὶ μὴν καὶ λόγος καὶ φωνή, καὶ ἡ πρὸς τοὺς πέλας ἔντευξις πρὸς μετριότητα μᾶλλον, ἢ πρὸς φλεγμονὴν βλεπέτω. Οὕτω γὰρ διὰ πάντων ἀσκούντες τὸ μέτριον εἰς τὴν οὐράνιον κορυφὴν ἀναβησόμεθα.