He who does not think much of himself is much more esteemed than he imagines.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
We would rather speak ill of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
If someone is blessed as I am is not willing to clean out the barn, who will?
—Ross Perot (1930–2019) American Businessman
An egotist will always speak of himself, either in praise or censure; but a modest man ever shuns making himself the subject of his conversation.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
The nice thing about egotists is that they don’t talk about other people.
—Lucille S. Harper American Freelance Writer
I is a militant social tendency, working to hold and enlarge its place in the general current of tendencies. So far as it can it waxes, as all life does. To think of it as apart from society is a palpable absurdity of which no one could be guilty who really saw it as a fact of life.
—Charles Cooley (1864–1929) American Sociologist
Egotism is the art of seeing in yourself what others cannot see.
—George V. Higgins (1939–99) American Crime Novelist
Egotism is the source and summary of all faults and miseries.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Do you wish men to speak well of you? Then never speak well of yourself.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
We reproach people for talking about themselves, but it is the subject they treat best.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
The egoism which enters into our theories does not affect their sincerity; rather, the more our egoism is satisfied, the more robust is our belief.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
One must learn to love oneself with a wholesome and healthy love, so that one can bear to be with oneself and need not roam.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Egotist. A person of low taste, more interested in himself than me.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
The personal pronoun “I,” might well be the coat of arms of some individuals.
—Antoine de Rivarol (1753–1801) French Writer, Epigrammatist
What will the world be quite overturned when you die?
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
If egotism means a terrific interest in one’s self, egotism is absolutely essential to efficient living.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I knew as well.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Egotism is more like an offence than a crime, though ’tis allowable to speak of yourself provided nothing is advanced in your own favor; but I cannot help suspecting that those who abuse themselves are, in reality, angling for approbation.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
Egotism is usually subversive of sagacity.
—Marianne Moore (1887–1972) American Poet
The pest of society are the egotist, they are dull and bright, sacred and profane, course and fine. It is a disease that like the flu falls on all constitutions.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
We often boast that we are never bored; but we are so conceited that we do not perceive how often we bore others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
A truly worthy man should avoid naming himself; Christian piety annihilates the worldly me; worldly civility hides and suppresses it.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
When a man is wrapped up in himself he makes a pretty small package.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
If being an egomaniac means I believe in what I do and in my art or my music, then in that respect you can call me that I believe in what I do, and I’ll say it.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
An inflated consciousness is always egocentric and conscious of nothing but its own existence. It is incapable of learning from the past, incapable of understanding contemporary events, and incapable of drawing right conclusions about the future. It is hypnotized by itself and therefore cannot be argued with. It inevitably dooms itself to calamities that must strike it dead.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
The more anyone speaks of himself, the less he likes to hear another talked of.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
When all is summed up, a man never speaks of himself without loss; his accusations of himself are always believed; his praises never.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Mastery passes often for egotism.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Sensitiveness is closely allied to egotism. Indeed, excessive sensitiveness is only another name for morbid self-consciousness. The cure for it is to make more of our objects, and less of ourselves.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
It is never permissible to say “I say.”
—Suzanne Curchod (1739–94) French-Swiss Salonist, Writer
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