Humbleness means that in every way—in action and in mind—one annuls oneself before the other. This means that he should also annul his reason before his friend.
There is internality and there is externality. They are called “revealed” and “concealed,” “act” and “thought.” Something that everyone can see belongs to the part of acting, but the thought is not revealed. This is why thought is considered internal, meaning that it is in man’s internality. But an act is considered externality, when there is an inner thought within it.
Hence, when one must annul before his friend, it is not really considered annulment, unless in two manners—in thought and in action.
It is not necessarily the act, but his mind, too, should be revoked, and he should say that his friend’s view is more important than his own view. Otherwise, it is not regarded as annulment. When he displays annulment before his friend, it is nothing but sycophancy [flattery], meaning that on the outside he appears as though his friend is more important, but inside, he knows his friend is nowhere near his level.