Originality exists in every individual because each of us differs from the others. We are all primary numbers divisible only by ourselves.
—Jean Guitton (1901–99) French Catholic Philosopher, Theologian
Self-approbation, when founded in truth and a good conscience, is a source of some of the purest joys known to man.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
In vain he seeketh others to suppress who hath not learned himself first to subdue.
—Edmund Spenser (1552–99) English Poet
When you give of your possessions, you give but little; it is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss – an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc. – is sure to be noticed.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
Man can starve from a lack of self-realization as much as… from a lack of bread.
—Richard Wright (1908–1960) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Let every man mind his own business.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
I… recommend to every one of my Readers, the keeping a Journal of their Lives for one Week, and setting down punctually their whole Series of Employments during that Space of Time. This kind of Self-Examination would give them a true State of themselves, and incline them to consider seriously what they are about. One Day would rectifie the Omissions of another, and make a Man weigh all those indifferent Actions, which, though they are easily forgotten, must certainly be accounted for.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The great thing in the world is to know how to be sufficient unto oneself.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The greatest pride, or the greatest despondency, is the greatest ignorance of one’s self.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about. And since we know least about ourselves, we are ready to believe all that is said about us. Hence the mysterious power of both flattery and calumny.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Every man is two men; one is awake in the darkness, the other asleep in the light.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Every man is of importance to himself.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Endurance is frequently a form of indecision.
—Elizabeth Bibesco (1897–1945) English Poet, Short Story Writer, Novelist
Becoming conscious is of course a sacrilege against nature; it is as though you had robbed the unconscious of something.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart: I am, I am, I am.
—Sylvia Plath (1932–63) American Poet, Novelist
We are all serving a self-sentence in the dungeon of self.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
All men should strive to learn, before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.
—James Thurber
Probably the most neglected friend you have is you.
—L. Ron Hubbard (1911–86) American Scientologist Religious Leader, Novelist, Author
It is better to rely on yourself than on your friends.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
He who asks of life nothing but the improvement of his own nature is less liable than anyone else to miss and waste life.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
The more you speak of yourself, the more likely you are to lie.
—Johann Jacob Zimmermann (1644–93) German Nonconformist Theologian, Mathematician, Astronomer
Few men survey themselves with so much severity as not to admit prejudices in their own favor.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
I was right not to be afraid of any thief but myself, who will end by leaving me nothing.
—Katherine Anne Porter (1890–1980) American Short-Story Writer, Novelist
Behold! I do not give lectures on a little charity. When I give, I give myself.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Everyone gives himself credit for more brains than he has and less money.
—Italian Proverb
What is best for people is what they do for themselves.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
We run away all the time to avoid coming face to face with ourselves.
—Unknown
When the fight begins within himself, a man’s worth something.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
We sometimes feel that we have been really understood, but it was always long ago, by someone now dead.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
There is but one virtue—the eternal sacrifice of self.
—George Sand (1804–76) French Novelist, Dramatist
People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Men who know themselves are no longer fools; they stand on the threshold of the Door of Wisdom.
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939) British Sexologist, Physician, Social Reformer
I am my own heaven and hell.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Self-defense is Nature’s oldest law.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Renew thyself completely each day; do it again, and again, and forever again.
—Chinese Proverb
To know oneself, one should assert oneself. Psychology is action, not thinking about oneself. We continue to shape our personality all our life. If we knew ourselves perfectly, we should die.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Think positively about yourself…. ask God who made you to keep on remaking you.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
A man has to live with himself, and he should see to it that he always has good company.
—Charles Evans Hughes (1862–1948) American Elected Rep, Judge, Politician, Lawyer, Professor
There is such a thing as honest pride and self-respect.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
Resolve to be thyself: and know, that he who finds himself, loses his misery.
—Matthew Arnold (1822–88) English Poet, Critic
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.
—Douglas Adams (1952–2001) English Novelist, Scriptwriter
I know what I am fleeing from, but not what I am in search of.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
The world will always be governed by self-interest: we should not try to stop this: we should try and make the self-interest of cads a little more coincident with that of decent people.
—Samuel Butler
A man is little the better for liking himself if nobody else likes him.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Every man must scratch his head with his own nails.
—Arabic Proverb
I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic