The feeling of this lowness and humility will put out of thy heart all imprudent looking into other men’s actions, and drive thee wholly to behold thyself, as if there were no other man living but God and thyself. And thou shalt deem and hold thyself more vile and more wretched than any one creature that liveth; insomuch that thou shalt hardly be able to brook and endure thyself, for the greatness and number of thy sins, and the filth which thou shalt feel in thyself. (John Climacus)

Humility or being grounded or being able to escape self-delusion is uncommon. John's full description of a humble heart would, probably, merit a modern diagnosis of profound depression.

Yet he is not alone in perceiving such self-awareness as an early step on the ladder of love. In recognizing our own wretched and exiled state we are less likely to disdain others for their shortcomings.

In the deep vulnerability of knowing ourselves to be entirely vile - literally worthless - we are more likely to open ourselves to the source of ultimate value.