The white light streams down to be broken up by those human prisms into all the colors of the rainbow. Take your own color in the pattern and be just that.
—Charles Reynolds Brown (1862–1950) American Clergyman
Our whole life is an attempt to discover when our spontaneity is whimsical, sentimental irresponsibility and when it is a valid expression of our deepest desires and values.
—Helen Lynd (1896–1982) American Sociologist, Philosopher
Why feignest thou thyself to be another?
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Passions spin the plot: We are betrayed by what is false within.
—George Meredith (1828–1909) British Novelist, Poet, Critic
Integrity simply means a willingness not to violate one’s identity.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
A wise man sees as much as he ought, not as much as he can.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
No matter how ill we may be, nor how low we may have fallen, we should not change identity with any other person.
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902) British Victorian Novelist, Essayist, Critic
A path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you … Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself alone, one question … Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t it is of no use.
—Carlos Castaneda (1925–98) Peruvian-born American Anthropologist, Author
In the world to come they will not ask me, “Why were you not Moses?” They will ask me, “Why were you not Zusya?”
—Zusha of Hanipol (1718–1800) Ukrainian Hasidic Rabbi
All life is the struggle, the effort to be itself.
—Jose Ortega y. Gasset (1883–1955) Spanish Critic, Journalist, Philosopher
It is the chiefest point of happiness that a man is willing to be what he is.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
With begging and scrambling we find very little, but with being true to ourselves we find a great deal more.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
No man would, I think, exchange his existence with any other man, however fortunate. We had as lief not be, as not be ourselves.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
if I trim myself to suit others I will soon whittle myself away.
—Unknown
All men have happiness as their object: there are no exceptions. However different the means they employ, they aim at the same end.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
What does reason demand of a man? A very easy thing—to live in accord with his own nature.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The moment that any life, however good, stifles you, you may be sure it isn’t your real life.
—A. C. Benson (1862–1925) English Essayist, Poet, Academic
To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying “Amen” to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
She lacks confidence, she craves admiration insatiably. She lives on the reflections of herself in the eyes of others. She does not dare to be herself.
—Anais Nin (1903–77) French-American Essayist
We would have to settle for the elegant goal of becoming ourselves.
—William Styron (1925–2006) American Novelist, Essayist
I believe there’s an inner power that makes winners or losers. And the winners are the ones who really listen to the truth of their hearts.
—Sylvester Stallone (b.1946) American Actor, Screenwriter, Director
Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Your readiest desire is your path to joy even if it destroys you.
—Holbrook Jackson (1874–1948) British Journalist, Writer, Editor
The most exhausting thing in life is being insincere.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
We live counterfeit lives in order to resemble the idea we first had of ourselves.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something that one finds. It is something one creates.
—Thomas Szasz (1920–2012) Hungarian-American Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst
If you’re gonna be a failure, at least be one at something you enjoy.
—Sylvester Stallone (b.1946) American Actor, Screenwriter, Director
We are sure to be losers when we quarrel with ourselves; it is civil war.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Learn what you are and be such.
—Pindar (c.518–c.438 BCE) Greek Lyric Poet
Men throw themselves on foreign assistances to spare their own, which, after all, are the only certain and sufficient ones.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
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