"Humility cannot be attained directly. Once we become aware of the poison of pride, we begin to notice it all around us. We hear it in the sarcastic, snarky voices in weblogs. We see it in civic, cultural, and business leaders who never admit weakness or failure. We see it in some friends with their jealousy, self-pity, and boasting. And so we vow not to talk or act like that. If we then notice 'a humble turn of mind' in ourselves, we immediately become-smug--but that is pride in our humility. If we catch ourselves doing that we will be impressed with how nuanced and subtle we have become. [But] humility is so shy. If you begin talking about it, it leaves. To even ask the question, 'Am I humble?' is to not be so. Examining your own heart, even for pride, often leads to being proud about your diligence and circumspection. Christian humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. It is no longer noticing yourself, how you are doing, and how you are being treated. It is 'blessed self-forgetfulness.'" 

- Tim Keller, The Advent of Humility