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The Best Quotations

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best quotations about

Self-reliance


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Self-reliance

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Quotations

NapoleonIf you want a thing done well, do it yourself.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

23 likes
AristotleHe who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

19 likes
EpicurusSelf-sufficiency is the greatest of all wealth.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

17 likes
Fernando PessoaIf you cannot live alone, you were born a slave.

—  Fernando Pessoa, 1888-1935, Portuguese poet & writer

15 likes
William BlakeMake your own rules or be a slave to another man's.

—  William Blake, 1757-1827, English poet & painter

15 likes
Ralph Waldo EmersonTo be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

—  Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1884, American philosopher

13 likes
EpicurusFreedom is the greatest fruit of self sufficiency.

—  Epicurus, 341-270 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

10 likes
Ayn RandMan—every man—is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself.

—  Ayn Rand, 1905-1982, American writer & philosopher

10 likes
Robert FrostNever be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.

—  Robert Frost, 1874-1963, American poet

7 likes
Friedrich NietzscheWhat is the seal of liberation? — No longer being ashamed in front of oneself.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

6 likes
Friedrich NietzscheNo one can construct for you the bridge upon which precisely you must cross the stream of life, no one but you yourself alone.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

6 likes
Lord ChesterfieldYoung men are apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are apt to think themselves sober enough.

—  Lord Chesterfield, 1694-1773, English statesman & writer

6 likes
RumiBe an empty page, untouched by words.

—  Rumi, 1207-1273, Persian mystic & poet

6 likes
Napoleon HillIt takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project.

—  Napoleon Hill, 1883-1970, American self-help writer

6 likes
Steve JobsDon’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.

—  Steve Jobs, 1955-2011, American businessman

6 likes
Benjamin DisraeliNever complain and never explain.

—  Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881, British Prime Minister

5 likes
Ayn RandIf one's actions are honest, one does not need the predated confidence of others.

—  Ayn Rand, 1905-1982, American writer & philosopher

5 likes
Ayn RandI will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.

—  Ayn Rand, 1905-1982, American writer & philosopher

5 likes
William FaulknerIf I were reincarnated, I’d want to come back a buzzard. Nothing hates him or envies him or wants him or needs him. He is never bothered or in danger, and he can eat anything.

—  William Faulkner, 1897-1962, American writer, Nobel 1949

5 likes
Erica JongTake your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.

—  Erica Jong, 1942-, American writer

5 likes
Steve JobsHave the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become.

—  Steve Jobs, 1955-2011, American businessman

5 likes
Aleister CrowleyYou can only accomplish your object in life by complete disregard of the opinions of other people.

—  Aleister Crowley, 1875-1945, British magician & occultist,

5 likes
RumiI want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.

—  Rumi, 1207-1273, Persian mystic & poet

4 likes
Nicolas Gomez DavilaIndividualism is the cradle of vulgarity.

—  Nicolas Gomez Davila, 1913-1994, Colombian writer

4 likes
Ralph Waldo EmersonThe only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

—  Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1884, American philosopher

4 likes
Antonio PorchiaThey will say you are on the wrong road, if it is your own.

—  Antonio Porchia, 1885-1968, Italian-Argentinian poet

4 likes
Fyodor DostoyevskyTo go wrong in one's own way is better than to go right in someone else's.

—  Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1821-1881, Russian writer

4 likes
Henry FordIf I had asked them what they had wanted, they would have said a faster horse.

—  Henry Ford, 1863-1947, American industrialist, founder of FORD

4 likes
RumiStart a huge, foolish project, like Noah. It makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.

—  Rumi, 1207-1273, Persian mystic & poet

4 likes
Benjamin FranklinHe who drinks his cider alone, let him catch his horse alone.

—  Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American politician & writer

3 likes
Eric HofferA man by himself is in bad company.

—  Eric Hoffer, 1902-1983, American writer & philosopher

3 likes
Charles de GaulleWhen I want to know what France thinks, I ask myself.

—  Charles de Gaulle, 1890-1970, French President

3 likes
RumiDon’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.

—  Rumi, 1207-1273, Persian mystic & poet

3 likes
Aleister CrowleyI am alone. There is no God where I am.

—  Aleister Crowley, 1875-1945, British magician & occultist,

3 likes
Ayn RandBut why should you care what people will say? All you have to do is please yourself.

—  Ayn Rand, 1905-1982, American writer & philosopher

2 likes
Ayn RandNever ask people about your work.

—  Ayn Rand, 1905-1982, American writer & philosopher

2 likes
Fernando PessoaIt is noble to be shy, illustrious not to know how to act, great not to have a gift for living.

—  Fernando Pessoa, 1888-1935, Portuguese poet & writer

2 likes
Bob DylanIf I lived my life by what others were thinkin’, the heart inside me would‘ve died.

—  Bob Dylan, 1941-, American singer [Nobel 2016]

2 likes
Bob DylanDealing with my own life takes priority over other people dealing with my life.

—  Bob Dylan, 1941-, American singer [Nobel 2016]

2 likes
Francis BaconChiefly the mold of a man's fortune is in his own hands.

—  Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, English philosopher

2 likes
Frank A. ClarkThe most important thing that parents can teach their children is how to get along without them.

—  Frank A. Clark, 1911-1991, American cartoonist

1 likes
Gertrude SteinLet me listen to me and not to them.

—  Gertrude Stein, 1874-1946, American writer

George EliotIf a man goes a little too far along a new road, it is usually himself that he harms more than any one else.

—  George Eliot, 1819-1880, English writer

Charles DickensWhether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.

—  Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, British writer

Nikos KazantzakisYou have the brushes, you have the colors, paint the paradise and go inside.

—  Nikos Kazantzakis, 1883-1957, Greek writer

BouddhaNo one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.

—  Bouddha, 563-483 BC, Indian founder of Buddhism

Edmond RostandI am what I am because early in life I decided that I would please at least myself in all things.

—  Edmond Rostand, 1868-1918, French playwright

Rainer Maria RilkeNo one can advise or help you — no one. There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart.

—  Rainer Maria Rilke, 1875-1926, Czech-German poet

Rudyard KiplingThe individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you’ll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.

—  Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936, English writer, Nobel 1907

William MaxwellI am the cat that walks alone.

—  William Maxwell, 1908-2000, American writer

Martin HeideggerWe should never allow our fears or the expectations of others to set the frontiers of our destiny.

—  Martin Heidegger, 1889-1976, German philosopher

Joseph CampbellYou become mature when you become the authority of your own life.

—  Joseph Campbell, 1904-1987, American academic

Henry de MontherlantEveryone did not become completely themselves until the day their parents died.

—  Henry de Montherlant, 1895-1972, French writer

Erica Jong“Without the gods, how would I sing?” I asked.
“With your own voice,” he said.

—  Erica Jong, 1942-, American writer

Henry KissingerI've always acted alone. Americans like that immensely.

—  Henry Kissinger, 1923-2023, American politician

Salvador DaliEverything influences me, nothing changes me.

—  Salvador Dali, 1904-1989, Spanish painter

Ashleigh BrilliantIf you want to put yourself on the map, publish your own map.

—  Ashleigh Brilliant, 1933-, British cartoonist & epigrammatist

Frank SinatraWhat I do with my life is of my own doing. I live it the best way I can.

—  Frank Sinatra, 1915-1998, American singer

Edgar CayceLearn to live with self and you will learn to live with others.

—  Edgar Cayce, 1877-1945, American mystic & prophet

Marty RubinEveryone has the right to play their cards their own way.

—  Marty Rubin, 1930-1994, Canadian gay activist, author & journalist

Marty RubinThere is music you never hear unless you play it yourself.

—  Marty Rubin, 1930-1994, Canadian gay activist, author & journalist

Marty RubinIt is not important that others like what you like. All that matters is that you like it.

—  Marty Rubin, 1930-1994, Canadian gay activist, author & journalist

Frida KahloSo absurd and fleeting is our passage through this world, that only the knowledge that I have been authentic, that I have managed to be the closest thing to myself, leaves me calm.

—  Frida Kahlo, 1907-1954, Mexican painter

Joseph ConradI always went my own road and on my own legs where I had a mind to go.

—  Joseph Conrad, 1857-1924, British-Polish writer

Latin Quotes

Latin phraseIf the winds fail you, use the oars.

Destitutus ventis, remos adhibe.

—  Latin phrase

105 likes

Quotes in Verse

Kostas VarnalisAnd if your pit is too deep,
it is your duty to use your hands to get up.

—  Kostas Varnalis, 1883-1974, Greek poet

2 likes
Sri AurobindoThe great are strongest when they stand alone,
A God-given might of being is their force.

—  Sri Aurobindo, 1872-1950, Indian nationalist, yogi & philosopher

Ancient Greek

True to his own spirit.

Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού.

—  Inscription, in Greek, on Jim Morrison’s tombstone in Paris

18 likes
Marcus AureliusA man should be upright, not kept upright.

Ορθόν ούν είναι χρη, ουχί ορθούμενον.

—  Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD, Roman Emperor ‐ Meditations III, 5

9 likes
AeschylusRule yourself what is your own.

Ων έχεις αυτός κράτει.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Eumenides

7 likes
AeschylusI hold my own mind and think apart from other men.

Δίχα δ’ άλλων μονόφρων ειμί.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Agamemnon

7 likes
DemocritusMigrating and living in a foreign land teaches self sufficiency.

Ξενιτείη βίου αυτάρκειαν διδάσκει.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

4 likes

Proverbs

French proverbEvery one for himself and God for us all.

—  French proverb

4 likes



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