Perhaps you are being sarcastic, but if you aren't I honestly honestly hope you do not do this in other areas of your life and discount yourself.

I think you're misinterpreting the comment. That's just a nice way of giving a compliment, essentially saying he's humbled by the quality of people applying; not necessarily that he doesn't think much of himself.

You may be right. I wasn't sure.

I read it in the same way as schrodinger.

Indeed, many times how you understand a comment says more about you than the writer.