To know one's place
By metaphor: he knew exactly what his status was. He did not try to receive honor that was not due to him.
("He who knows his place and rejoices in his lot, and who makes a hedge about his words and does not secure good for himself, loves the place, loves the people" - Avot 6:6)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
הִכִּיר אֶת מְקוֹמוֹ
Definition (Hebrew)
בְּהַשְׁאָלָה: יָדַע בְּדִיּוּק מָה מַעֲמָדוֹ. לֹא נִסָּה לְקַבֵּל כָּבוֹד שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַגִּיעַ לוֹ.
("הַמַּכִּיר אֶת מְקוֹמוֹ וְהַשָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ וְהָעוֹשֶׂה סְיָג לִדְבָרָיו וְאֵינוֹ מַחֲזִיק טוֹבָה לְעַצְמוֹ אָהוּב אוֹהֵב אֶת הַמָּקוֹם אוֹהֵב אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת"- אָבוֹת ו ו )