Quotes About Self-sufficiency

Any time you beg another man to set you free, you will never be free. Freedom is something that you have to do for yourselves.

A man must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.

Anything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise.

Whatever is in any way beautiful hath its source of beauty in itself, and is complete in itself; praise forms no part of it. So it is none the worse nor the better for being praised.

Show by a cheerful look that you don't need the help or comfort of others. Standing up - not propped up.

To be cheerful, and to stand in no need, either of other men's help or attendance, or of that rest and tranquillity, which thou must be beholding to others for. Rather like one that is straight of himself, or hath ever been straight, than one that hath been rectified.

Thus the Stoics arrive at their main thesis. Virtue alone is admirable, virtue is absolutely self-sufficient; the good man needs no help from circumstances, neither sickness nor adversity can harm him; he is a king, a god among men.

And so shalt thou confess, if thou dost observe it. For sooner mayst thou find a thing earthly, where no earthly thing is, than find a man that naturally can live by himself alone.

he is poor, who has need of another, and has not from himself all things that are useful for life.

Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquillity which others give. A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.

A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.

Endure labour; nor to need many things; when I have anything to do, to do it myself rather than by others; not to meddle with many businesses; and not easily to admit of any slander.

He poor, that stands in need of another, and hath not in himself all things needful for this life.

Habite en ti la serenidad, la ausencia de necesidad de ayuda externa y de la tranquilidad que procuran otros. Conviene, por consiguiente, mantenerse recto, no enderezado.

É impossível não ser felicíssimo quem em tudo depende apenas de si e em si mesmo tudo apóia.

Dac? ai o gr?din? ?i o bibliotec?, ai tot ce-?i trebuie.

I am not your justification for existence.

Come away with me, he said, we will live on a desert island. I said, I am a desert island. It was not what he had in mind.

I won't fatten them in cages, though. I won't ply them with poisoned fruit items. I won't change them into clockwork images or talking shadows. I won't drain out their life's blood. They can do all those things for themselves.

I have a fork and a spoon, but never a knife… as if I'm lacking manual skills or teeth. I have both, however. That's why I'm not allowed a knife.

I listened humbly, resentfully. I knew I did not have charm. Neither Laura nor I had it. We were too secretive for charm, or else too blunt. We'd never learned it, because Reenie had spoiled us. She felt that who we were ought to be enough for anybody. We shouldn't have to lay ourselves out for people, court them with coaxings and wheedlings and eye-batting displays.

How long do you expect me to wait while you cauterize your senses, one after another turning yourself to an impervious glass tower?

Why, why, her mind stuttered, I believe women could manage everything in the world without men's help--except having babies, and God knows, no woman in her right mind would have babies if she could help it.

Why, why, her mind stuttered, I believe women could manage everything in the world without men's help--except having babies, and God knows, no woman in her right mind would have babies if she could help it.