Hal Lewis observes, “Of all the behaviors Judaism associates with effective leadership, none ranks higher than humility.” So strongly did the ancient rabbis view the trait of humility that, according to the Talmud, “a leader who guides Israel with humility shall lead them also in the World-to-Come.” Concerning its opposite— arrogance— the rabbis of the Talmud say God weeps “over the public leader who is arrogant in his leadership.” These references provide some indication of the importance the rabbis have given to humility as a desired quality in a leader. Its opposite, arrogance, is a leadership problem.

Yet William Berkson notes not only that humility has “become so unpopular in our time that it is often viewed as a vice” but also that “this rejection of humility is an offspring of Rousseau's view that our natural self is purely good, and only becomes corrupted by society.” However, this perspective that blames society for one's bad behavior negates the inner and innate human conflict that the ancient rabbis regarded as inherent in all people, namely the competing impulses to do good and to do bad. This notion is explored in a further chapter, but it is important to point out, as Berkson does, that “while the Rabbinic view of humility is vulnerable to criticism that it goes too far,” the medieval Jewish rabbi, philosopher and moralist Bachya ibn Paquda “provides an important clarification” that helps support why “humility is a prerequisite to both reverence and compassion.”

In ibn Paquda's seminal work, Duties of the Heart, Paquda asserts that practicing humility “keeps a person from haughtiness, arrogance, pride, vainglory, domination, the urge to control everything, the desire for what is above him, and similar outgrowths of pride.” Among the many situations where Paquda asserts one has a duty to be humble includes while engaging in business with others and whenever one is praised for positive personal qualities. In the latter case, Paquda maintains that one should remember “previous transgressions and sins” rather than rejoice. However, Paquda also identifies a bad type of humility.