Fittingly, Mythic have saved Humility for the end of their series of weekly examinations of the Eight Virtues. The Ultima Forever Facebook page has been updated with a brief overview of the Virtue itself:

Humility is unique in that it does not involve any of the three principles (Love, Courage, and Truth), but is separate from them. It is the opposite of pride, and is about perceiving one’s place in the world. It is the recognition of the value in all living creatures, outside of material possessions or personal accomplishments.

Humility is associated with the town of New Magincia.

The symbol of Humility is a Shepherd’s staff, and its associated player class is the Shepherd.

Humility does not have an opposing Dungeon.

The Mantra of Humility is “Lum.” Its color is Black.

Humility is best described as the opposite of Pride, which is the absence of the three principles.

How has Humility been a part of Britannia over the years? Has there been a time in your life where it was better to be Humble than act otherwise? Take a look at Katrina’s page for more information on what it means to be a Shepherd: http://bit.ly/13U2jmx

I’ve tried in the past to look at the Virtue of Humility in some detail (and even cited Ayn Rand in attempting to do so), but in truth it is a very difficult concept to describe adequately, because in its best and purest manifestations, it should pass without notice.

And in fairness, I’m not sure that any Ultima game has really explored the idea thoroughly. That said, its placement in the arcana of the Virtues and Principles — that is, extrinsic to (and encompassing all of) them — was a keen decision on Richard Garriott’s part, since (arguably) none of the other Virtues can be genuinely practiced in the absence of a humble nature.