To subject oneself to one s inferior. By no means. For humility demands our subjection to God directly and subjection to man only on account of God. Loss of dignity would be involved in submitting ourselves to man as such, by reason of his qualities, personality, or our own weakness. This would be servility.
Nothing is so opposed to servility as humility, and nothing is so protective of dignity.
For by it we are prevented from aspiring after what is beyond us, and so making ourselves ridiculous, as well as saved from subjecting ourselves to that to which we should not be subject, and so degrading ourselves. Humility is based on reverence towards God, and it is through that sense of reverence that we submit ourselves to what is divine whether in persons or in the order of things prevailing. Our attitude of respect and submission is dictated by our sense of the presence of God in men and things - a presence either actual or possible. And the superior who looks upon his authority in the same way can be firm in demanding unquestioning and absolute submission to it as such, without in the least degree being wanting in humility. In spiritual books we read about blind obedience.