The Torah writes the word "קטנתי" - "I am unworthy," with the letter "י" in small. Chazal explain this to mean that Yaakov's profound humility is manifested in his utter self-effacement. Although he was aware of his exalted status, he never allowed this to go to his head. So too, our great Torah scholars, who know their capacity as authorities in the Jewish world, do not see any reason why they should be singled out for any undue honors. Two of our most outstanding Torah luminaries, the great R' Akiva Eiger ZT"L and R' Yaakov of Lisa ZT"L, author of the classic work Nesivos Hamishpat, were once passengers on a coach. Most of the trip they sat near each other and conversed in Torah topics, to their sheer delight and pleasure. When they approached their destination, many of the community citizens, who anticipated their imminent arrival, came out en masse to form an honor guard of religious Jews to accompany these two great men into the city. R' Yaakov was gazing out the window and saw the huge crowds that had gathered outside to escort the wagons. Immediately, he thought to himself, "Obviously, this could only be a grand tribute to the holy tzaddik, R' Akiva Eiger. I too shall join them." Without uttering a word, he secretly descended from the back of the coach to join the throngs who marched and sang alongside of it. R' Akiva Eiger, who had been sitting on the other side of the coach, noticed the crowds as well. In his humility, he similarly concluded that this whole tumult outside must be for his esteemed fellow sage, R' Yaakov. Likewise, he decided that he must join the crowd to properly welcome the tzaddik. He quietly alighted from the opposite side of the coach to participate in the Mitzvah, without anyone noticing him. In this manner, the empty coach entered the city with its two most prominent passengers lost in a sea of Yiddishe humanity. The singing and acuous welcome continued until it became clear that neither R' Akiva Eiger nor R' Yaakov Lisa were actually in the coach! The thought had never occurred to either of the two tzaddikim, nor had either one accepted the possibility that the intended recipient of all the lavish honor was to be himself. Who can compare to these giants!