Quotes About Introspection

Use this advice to prod your thinking, but don't use it as a replacement for your thinking. In the end you have to make, and live with, the decisions yourself.

It is part of the pholosophic dullness of our time that there are millions of rational monsters walking about on their hind legs, observing the world through pairs of flexible little lenses, periodically supplying themselves with energy by pushing organic substances through holes in their faces, who see nothing fabulous whatever about themselves.

A man may be born a jackass; but it is his business if he makes himself a double one.

We use our brains too little, and when we do, it is only to make excuses for our reflexes and our instincts.

Tell me how you read and I'll tell you who you are.

The most thought-provoking thing in our thought-provoking time is that we are still not thinking.

To think is to confine yourself to a single thought that one day stands still like a star in the world's sky.

a remarkably gentle and insightful monk, Theophan, who says, "You must descend from your head to your heart. At present your thoughts of God are in your head. And God Himself is, as it were, outside you, and so your prayer and other spiritual exercises remain exterior. Whilst you are still in your head, thoughts will not easily be subdued but will always be whirling about, like snow in winter or clouds of mosquitoes in the summer.

most of us are rarely inside the present moment. We spend a disproportionate amount of time plotting the future or revisiting past events. But when we swim, or shower, or take a bath, we have little choice but to position ourselves in the present, giving our thoughts room to float and wander

I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self.

Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying..

Rather than walk about holy places we can thus pause in our thoughts, examine our heart, and visit the wheel promised land.

it has been and always will be my desire not to attack even those whom public repute disgraces. I am not delighted at the faults of any man, since I am very conscious myself of the great beam in my own eye, nor can I be the first to cast a stone at the adulteress.

We need a millstone around our neck to keep us humble.

I more fear what is within me than what comes from without.

We must not be dependent on the judgment of the world or the flesh; in fact, we must not be dependent on the judgment even of our own hearts regarding ourselves.

If I examine myself I find enough unholiness to shock me. But when I look at Christ in me I find that I am altogether holy.

The inner and hidden part of this wisdom is nothing else than knowing oneself thoroughly, and therefore hating oneself.

True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation of so fine a virtue.

I refuse to accept the idea that the "isness" of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the "oughtness" that forever confronts him.

Each of us is something of a schizophrenic personality, tragically divided against ourselves.

I sit and feel lonely. Sitting and feeling lonely is something I am a spectacular success at. I can do it for hours. Everyone is good at something.

Fernando Pessoa ha scritto che dovremmo lavare il nostro destino come laviamo il nostro corpo. Sono d'accordo, ma non ho ancora trovato il sapone giusto.

My personality is a luxury that's costing me too dearly.