Abbot Nikon (Vorobiev): The path of humility

The Lord had to choose a path for man which would preclude his becoming proud, as the devil did, even in the afterlife, and which would help him to consciously grow in his love for God, to submit to Him wholly forever, without the possibility of falling away.
And since the characteristic of the soul opposite pride is humility, the Word of God, the Mother of God and the Holy Fathers value humility above all. Without humility no spiritual labor will help a person, for he can always fall into pride and fall away from God. Love also joins man to God, but without humility there can be no love.
+Abbot Nikon (Vorobiev), from Letters to Spiritual Children, letter #24