Tapeinosis

Humility in the Philokalia is not self-deprecation or low self-esteem. It is accurate self-knowledge — seeing yourself as you actually are, without inflation or deflation. The tradition consistently teaches that humility is the foundation on which everything else rests and the safeguard against spiritual delusion (prelest). The person who maintains genuine humility cannot be deceived by pride, because they have no inflated self-image for pride to feed.

Peter of Damaskos describes the relationship clearly: "Humility gives birth to discrimination; while from discrimination comes the spiritual insight which the prophet calls 'counsel.'"