Before everyone stands a image of what he ought to be. So long as he is not that his peace is not complete.
—Friedrich Ruckert (1788–1866) German Poet, Translator
We do not deal much in facts when we are contemplating ourselves.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
A man who has been the indisputable favorite of his mother keeps for life the feeling of a conqueror.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
Love yourself unconditionally, just as you love those closest to you despite their faults.
—Les Brown
The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Poet, Writer, Painter
If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.
—Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) (39–65 CE) Roman Statesman, Latin Poet
The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.
—Barbara De Angelis (b.1951) American Self-Help Author
Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
One is rated by others as he rates himself.
—French Proverb
Never say anything about yourself you do not want to come true.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.
—Buddhist Teaching
The less a man thinks or knows about his virtues, the better we like him.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
He who despises himself nevertheless esteems himself as a self-despiser.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the prerogative of mindlessness, but the exact opposite: It is the reward of self-esteem.
—Nathaniel Branden (1930–2014) American Psychotherapist
Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in our own sunshine.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Whatever you are doing, love yourself for doing it. Whatever you are feeling, love yourself for feeling it.
—Thaddeus Golas (1924–97) American New Age Writer
You are indebted to your imagination for three-fourths of your importance.
—David Garrick (1717–79) English Actor, Theatre Manager, Playwright
Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.
—Lucille Ball (1911–89) American Actor, Comedian, Model
Whatever games are played with us, we must play no games with ourselves, but deal in our privacy with the last honesty and truth.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There comes a time in each life like a point of fulcrum. At that time you must accept yourself. It is not anymore what you will become. It is what you are and always will be.
—John Fowles (1926–2005) English Novelist
The highest in God’s esteem are the lowest in their own.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
When a person feels disposed to over estimate his own importance, let him remember that mankind got along very well before his birth, and that in all probability they will they will get along very well after his death.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
I will give thanks to thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Self-love is not opposed to the love of other people. You cannot really love yourself and do yourself a favor without doing other people a favor, and vice versa.
—Karl Menninger (1893–1990) American Psychiatrist
SELF-ESTEEM controls PERFORMANCE/REALITY which stimulate SELF-TALK which reinforces SELF-ESTEEM. This cycle can work positively or negatively and is greatly influenced by the self-talk (I knew I wasn’t good at -X vs. next time I’ll practice and do better at -X).
—Unknown
A successful man is one who lays a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.
—Swami Chinmayananda (1916–93) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
Respect yourself if you would have others respect you. – Gracian, Baltasar
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
He that undervalues himself will undervalue others, and he that undervalues others will oppress them.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
We are valued in this world at the rate we desire to be valued.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
If you wish your merit to be known,
acknowledge that of other people.
—Eastern Proverb
Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
The confidence we have in ourselves arises in a great measure from that which we have in others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The person we believe ourselves to be will always act in a manner consistent with our self-image.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
There are few people who are more often in the wrong than those who cannot endure to be thought so.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
While we are indifferent to our good qualities, we keep on deceiving ourselves in regard to our faults, until we come to look on them as virtues.
—Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) German Poet, Writer
Oftentimes nothing profits more than self-esteem, grounded on what is just and right and well-managed.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
The times of drastic change are times of passions. We can never really be prepared from that which is wholly new. We have to adjust ourselves, and every radical adjustment is a crisis in self-esteem: we undergo a test, we have to prove ourselves. A population subjected to drastic change is, thus, a population of misfits, and misfits live and breathe in an atmosphere of passion.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
He who gives himself airs of importance exhibits the credentials of impotence.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
A wise man knows his own ignorance; a fool thinks he knows everything. In one thing men of all ages are alike, they have believed obstinately in themselves.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
I have often wondered how it is everyone loves himself more than the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinions of himself than the opinions of others.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Whatever good things we build end up building us.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
All the extraordinary men I have known were extraordinary in their own estimation.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
He that fancies himself very enlightened, because he sees the deficiencies of others, may be very ignorant, because he has not studied his own.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Think highly of yourself, for the world takes you at your own estimate.
—Unknown
Seriously, I do not think I fit for the presidency.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State