Quotes About Self-awareness

A man often imagines that he acts, when he is acted upon.

Self-love is the greatest of flatterers.

We can't bear to be deceived by our enemies, and betrayed by our friends; yet are often content to be so served by ourselves.

We should not be much concerned about faults we have the courage to own.

Some weak people are sensible of their weakness and able to make good use of it.

He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world can't do without him is yet more mistaken.

'Tis as easy to deceive ourselves without our perceiving it, as 'tis difficult to deceive others without their perceiving it.

If we took as much pains to be what we ought, as we do to deceive others by disguising what we are; we might appear as we are, without being at the trouble of any disguise.

We try to make a virtue of vices we are loath to correct.

Few men know all the ill they do.

Sometimes I give myself admirable advice, but I am incapable of taking it.

If I were pretentious I would say that I'm not an average person. But really, I know how that is.

People who can't be alone have a problem. Loneliness is a luxury for people like me.

How do we define, how do we describe, how do we explain and/or understand ourselves? What sort of creatures do we take ourselves to be? What are we? Who are we? Why are we? How do we come to be what or who we are or take ourselves to be? How do we give an account of ourselves? How do we account for ourselves, our actions, interactions, transactions (praxis), our biologic processes? Our specific human existence?

Human beings seem to have an almost unlimited capacity to deceive themselves, and to deceive themselves into taking their own lies for truth.

It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such. The dragon, you know, hunkered in the village devouring maidens, heard the townsfolk cry 'Monster!' and looked behind him.

How could you tell if your instincts were just hope in disguise, and if your hope was really desperation parading as possibility?

I don't know many rules to live by," he'd said. "But here's one. It's simple. Don't put anything unnecessary into yourself. No poisons or chemicals, no fumes or smoke or alcohol, no sharp objects, no inessential needles—drug or tattoo—and… no inessential penises, either.

It's not easy having a paradox at the core of one's own being.

I didn't even know my face could do this. It's like there were hidden zippers in my cheeks. Jesus. This must be what feelings are. This is why people write poems! I get it now. I get it, and I want more.

The Greek philosopher Epictetus said, "First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such »

She'd hit the stony bottom of her own shallow depths.

The Greek philosopher Epictetus said, 'First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.' Good old Epictetus. I would be Confident Girl, and that means unplastering myself from the side of this building, for starters.