Nathaniel Branden Quotes

There is overwhelming evidence that the higher the level of self-esteem, the more likely one will be to treat others with respect, kindness, and generosity.

When people are not accepting toward themselves they are often obsessed with acceptance by others.

It would be hard to name a more certain sign of poor self-esteem than the need to perceive some other group as inferior.

If you are terrified of making mistakes, you will be reluctant to acknowledge them when you do make them-and therefore you will not correct them.

A bully hides his fears with fake bravado. That is the opposite of self-assertiveness.

The lies most devastating to our self-esteem are not so much the lies we tell as the lies we live.

Suffering is just about the easiest of all human activities; being happy is just about the hardest. And happiness requires, not surrender to guilt, but emancipation from guilt.

Integrity is congruence between what you know, what you profess, and what you do.

Self-respecting men and women think about the consequences of their actions-and are willing to take responsibility for them.

Self-esteem is not a luxury; it is a profound spiritual need.

To attain "success" without attaining positive self-esteem is to be condemned to feeling like an imposter anxiously awaiting exposure.

Freedom is still the most radical idea of all.

To trust one's mind and to know that one is worthy of happiness is the essence of self-esteem.

You have a right to your feelings. Your feelings are there to tell you something, but they are not infallible guides to behavior.

Persons of high self-esteem are not driven to make themselves superior to others; they do not seek to prove their value by measuring themselves against a comparative standard. Their joy is being who they are, not in being better than someone else.

It is very difficult to accept in others emotions you cannot accept in yourself.

One of the most significant characteristics of healthy self esteem is that it is the state of one who is not at war either with himself or with others.

The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.

How do we keep our inner fire alive? Two things, at minimum, are needed: an ability to appreciate the positives in our life – and a commitment to action. Every day, it's important to ask and answer these questions: ‘What's good in my life?’ and ‘What needs to be done?

If you are an adult, you are responsible for your life and well-being. No one owes you the fulfillment of your needs or wants; no one is here on earth to serve you. If you respect the principle of self-ownership, you understand that no one else owns you and that you do not own anyone else. Only on this understanding can there be peace on earth and good will among human beings.

Integrity is the integration of ideals, convictions, standards, beliefs-and behavior. When our behavior is congruent with our professed values, when ideals and practice match up, we have integrity.

Feel deeply to think clearly.

The ultimate test of our integrity is not how we deal with those whom we agree but how we deal with those who we do not agree.

A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.

No one is coming to save you.