Rav Kook on Humility

היום שנים עשר יום, שהם שבוע אחד וחמשה ימים, בעמר
Today is twelve days, which is one week and five days, of the omer
הוד שבגבורה
A day of humility in a week of strength

"Humility is a beautiful trait, but we must be careful not to become mired in a debilitating morass of apathy and negativity. On the contrary, the true goal of humility is to inspire us to strive for greater spiritual attainments. An accurate assessment of our current state prevents complacency. It should stimulate us to uncover our soul’s true potential and strive for those lofty levels that are suitable for it."

A teaching on humility from an essay on the Amidah, a section of liturgy that is a part of each Jewish prayer service, by Rav Abraham Isaac Kook. Rav Kook was a renowned Torah & Talmud scholar, philosopher, and mystic of the late 19th/early 20th century. He was the first Chief Rabbi of Israel, and sought to bring together the myriad of Jewish factions, as difficult a task then as it is now.