The phrase “Ohne Demut gibt es keine Tugend” is not directly attributable to Aquinas, but it does reflect some of his ideas on virtue and humility. Aquinas, one of the most influential scholastic philosophers, argued that humility is a fundamental virtue because it moderates excessive ambition and presumption. In this sense, humility can be understood as a way to shift attention away from the self and reduce egocentrism.
Nietzsche, on the other hand, developed a very different view of humility and of Christian morality in general. In On the Genealogy of Morals, he criticizes humility as part of the “slave morality” that emerges from Christianity. According to Nietzsche, this morality devalues self-assertion, strength, and the will to power, while elevating submission, weakness, and humility. In this context, humility acquires a negative connotation, seen as an obstacle to the full development of the individual and the realization of one’s will to power.
Thus, while Aquinas treats humility as a virtue that distances us from egocentrism and leads to greater wisdom and understanding, Nietzsche critiques it as a feature of a morality that represses vitality and assertiveness. Both philosophers offer contrasting perspectives on humility and its role in moral and personal life.