How to remedy pride and acquire humbleness:
The remedy of pride, which is also a means to require humbleness, mainly depends on the removing of its source from the heart. This requires that the prideful person should know himself and his Lord.
By knowing himself, he realizes that he should never have been prideful. It is sufficient for him to know that "clay" is the origin of his existence then he was created out of a sperm that came out of the same place where urine comes out of the body, then out of a clot of blood, then out of a morsel of flesh, then he was given life, along with the gifts of hearing, sight, and understanding. Allah, the Almighty, refers to this fact in the Quran, saying (what means): “From what thing did He create him? From Nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge) He created him and then set him in due proportion.” [Quran; 80:18-19]
Then He, The Almighty, favors him (what means): “Then He makes the Path easy for him.” [Quran; 18: 20]
Thus, Allah gives man life, moulds him in due proportions, and brings him to the world where he provides him with food, drink, clothing, guidance, and strength.
Therefore, if this is the reality of man's existence and creation, why should he be prideful or arrogant?
Having realized this, the prideful person should remember that his life may be taken from him at any time and in any place, and that by then he will be buried in his grave where his body will be worn out, then on the Day of Resurrection he will receive his "record" and it will be said to him as Allah tells us saying (what means) “Read your Book: You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day.” [Quran; 17:14]
Recalling such scenes every now and then is apt to decrease one's feeling of pride and arrogance until it finally fades away, Allah willing.
As for knowing his Lord, it is enough for the prideful person to contemplate about the signs and effects of His might and greatness, to realize that no one is to show pride or arrogance in the Kingdom of the All-Mighty Lord, Glory be to Him.
Self-admiration:
It was reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said: "While a man was strutting in two gowns out of self-admiration, Allah caused the earth to swallow him up, and he has been submerging therein up to the Day of Resurrection." [Muslim]
Also, it was reported that Ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Destruction lies in two things: self-admiration and despair (from the mercy of Allah)." Ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him, gathered self-admiration and despair together because happiness cannot be obtained except with exerting much effort; the despairing person does not make any effort because of his despair and the self-admired person believes that he has got what he wants so he feels he does not have to make any effort either.
Self-admiration leads to pride, as it is originally one of its causes, and pride leads to many destructive flaws.
The Remedy of Self-admiration:
Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, favored man when He created him and provided him with many blessings. Therefore, no one should be self-admired because of his actions, knowledge, beauty, or wealth, as these are bounties provided by Allah out of His Grace.
Moreover, even a person's righteous deeds will not admit him to Paradise, because it is Allah Who guides him and enables him to do them. It was reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet once said: "No one's good deeds will make him enter Paradise."
They (the Prophet's Companions, may Allah be pleased with them) said: "Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Not even myself, unless Allah bestows His favor and mercy on me." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
It should also be known that the causes of pride are also from amongst the causes of self-admiration. They have already been mentioned earlier, so they may be referred to where they are cited above.
Someone may say: a noble man may be self-admired because of his noble lineage, and he may wish that his noble relatives will intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection.
Commenting on this, we can say that all Muslims wish for intercession on their behalf and it is true that intercession may not be accepted when one's sins are very great. Allah, the Almighty, Says (what means): “…Verily the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e., he is one of The Muttaqun (the pious)] …” [Quran; 49:13]
Furthermore, the Prophet said to his daughter, may Allah be pleased with her: "O Faatimah, I have no power (to protect you) from Allah in anything." [Al-Bukhari]
Therefore, it is only man's righteous deeds and good qualities that make him "noble" or "honorable" in the sight of Allah. Besides, Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger said: “I should not find that any of you should come on the Day of Resurrection with a growling camel mounted on his neck, and should appeal to me for help, saying, 'O Messenger of Allah, help me, 'and I should say, I have no authority to help you; I already conveyed to you '."
So, whoever knows and comprehends these facts will start occupying the rest of his life with as many acts of worship and obedience as he can, as this is the only rope to salvation.