Quotes by Nathaniel Branden

“Live with integrity, respect the rights of other people, and follow your own bliss.”

“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.”

“Self esteem is the reputation we acquire with ourselves.”

“Productive achievement is a consequence and an expression of health, self-esteem, not its cause”

“In a world in which the total of human knowledge is doubling about every ten years, our security can rest only on our ability to learn”

“In any culture, subculture, or family in which belief is valued above thought, and self-surrender is valued above self-expression, and conformity is valued above integrity, those who preserve their self-esteem are likely to be heroic exceptions”

“Reason and emotion are not antagonists. What seems like a struggle between two opposing ideas or values, one of which, automatic and unconscious, manifests itself in the form of a feeling.”

“For the rational, psychologically healthy man, the desire for pleasure is the desire to celebrate his control over reality. For the neurotic, the desire for pleasure is the desire to escape from reality.”

“A woman in love will do almost anything for a man, except give up the desire to improve him.”

“Acceptance of others, their looks, their behaviors, their beliefs, bring you an inner peace and tranquillity -- instead of anger and resentment”

“The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.”

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”

“I used to look in the mirror and feel shame, I look in the mirror now and I absolutely love myself.”

“My mom raised me so wonderfully. She gave me self esteem and made me appreciate my flaws, as well as my strengths.”

“Where talent is a dwarf, self-esteem is a giant.”

“You really have to look inside yourself and find your own inner strength, and say, Im proud of what I am and who I am, and Im just going to be myself.”

“A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success.”

I am responsible for my own existence and happiness.

All positive interactions with other human beings involve, to some degree, the experience of visibility-- that is, the experience of being seen and understood.

Fear and pain should be treated as signals not to close our eyes but to open them wider.