Life marks us all down, so it’s just as well that we start out by overpricing ourselves.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will – his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.
—Unknown
A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
He who would be well taken care of must take care of himself.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Academic, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
He who is plenteously provided for from within needs but little from without.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
It is a painful thing to look at your own trouble and know that you yourself, and no one else, has made it.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
You’re never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you’re never as bad as they say when you lose.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
Fields are won by those who believe in winning.
—Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823–1911) American Social Reformer, Clergyman
All of us have wonders hidden in our breasts, only needing circumstances to evoke them.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
You control your future, your destiny. What you think about comes about. By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands: your own.
—Mark Victor Hansen (b.1948) American Public Speaker, Motivational Speaker, Writer
It must be admitted that there is a degree of instability which is inconsistent with civilization. But, on the whole, the great ages have been unstable ages.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
Up to a point a man’s life is shaped by environment, heredity, and the movements and changes in the world around him. Then there comes a time when it lies within his grasp to shape the clay of his life into the sort of thing he wishes to be. Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, ‘This I am today; that I will be tomorrow.’ The wish, however, must be implemented by deeds.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
Let me listen to me and not to them.
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) American Writer
There is no man so low down that the cure for his condition does not lie strictly within himself.
—Thomas Masson (1866–1934) American Journalist, Humorist, Author
There are cases in which a man would be ashamed not to have been imposed upon. There is a confidence necessary to human intercourse, and without which men are often more injured by their own suspicions, than they could be by the perfidy of others.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Self-distrust is the cause of most of our failures.—In the assurance of strength there is strength; and they are the weakest, however strong, who have no faith in themselves or their powers.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It’s very important to be aware of them every time they come up.
—Deepak Chopra (b.1946) Indian-born American Physician, Public Speaker, Writer
Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.
—Truman Capote (1924–84) American Novelist
Proust has pointed out that the predisposition to love creates its own objects; is this not also true of fear?
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
If there is no wind, row.
—Latin Proverb
As is our confidence, so is our capacity.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
He who closes his ears to the views of others shows little confidence in the integrity of his own views.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie
Which we ascribe to heaven.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We can be thankful to a friend for a few acres, or a little money; and yet for the freedom and command of the whole earth, and for the great benefits of our being, our life, health, and reason, we look upon ourselves as under no obligation.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I want to work with the top people, because only they have the courage and the confidence and the risk-seeking profile that you need.
—James Joyce (1882–1941) Irish Novelist, Poet
How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Knock the “t” off the “can’t”.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Nothing is a greater impediment to being on good terms with others than being ill at ease with yourself. – Balzac, Honore De
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
Confidence on the outside begins by living with integrity on the inside.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Somehow I can’t believe that there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
To believe that if only we had this or that we would be happy, or to pursue any excessive desire, diverts us from seeing that happiness depends on an adequate self.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
No one to blame! That was why most people led lives they hated, with people they hated. How wonderful to have someone to blame! How wonderful to live with one’s nemesis! You may be miserable, but you feel forever in the right. You may be fragmented, but you feel absolved of all the blame for it. Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies.
—Roderick Thorp (1936–99) American Novelist, Writer
Felicity, felicity … is quaffed out of a golden cup … the flavour is with you alone, and you can make it as intoxicating as you please.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Men, at some time, are masters of their fates.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The best bet is to bet on yourself.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
Confidence: The feeling that makes one believe a man, even when one knows that one would lie in his place.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Confidence… thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
A secure individual … knows that the responsibility for anything concerning his life remains with himself—and he accepts that responsibility.
—Harry Browne (1933–2006) American Politician, Investor, Writer
Be like the bird who, halting in his flight on a limb too slight, yet sings, knowing he has wings.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Our ordinary mind always tries to persuade us that we are nothing but acorns and that our greatest happiness will be to become bigger, fatter, shinier acorns; but that is of interest only to pigs. Our faith gives us knowledge of something better: that we can become oak trees.
—E. F. Schumacher (1911–77) German Mathematician, Economist
Perhaps I am stronger than I think.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
Nothing’s so apt to undermine your confidence in a product as knowing that the commercial selling it has been approved by the company that makes it.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
All times are beautiful for those who maintain joy within them; but there is no happy or favorable time for those with disconsolate or orphaned souls.
—Rosalia de Castro (1837–1885) Galician Romanticist Writer, Poet
Luck is always waiting for something to turn up. Labor, with keen eyes and strong will, always turns up something. Luck lies in bed and wishes the postman will bring news of a legacy. Labor turns out at six o’clock and with busy pen or ringing hammer, lays the foundation of a competence. Luck whines. Labor whistles. Luck relies on chance, labor on character.
—Richard Cobden
Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator