It sounded, I told him, as if he had never learned to balance projecting goals into the future with appreciating and living in the present.... To the extent that our goal is to "prove" ourselves or ward off the fear of failure, this balance is difficult to achieve. We are too driven. Not joy but anxiety is our motor. But if our aim is self-expression rather than self-justification, the balance tends to come more naturally. We will still need to think about its daily implementation, but the anxiety of wounded self-esteem will not make the task nearly impossible.

— Nathaniel Branden

Live with integrity, respect the rights of other people, and follow your own bliss.

— Nathaniel Branden

Most of us are capable of more than we believe.

— Nathaniel Branden

Most people do not erode their self-esteem over big issues but over small ones, little acts of betrayal and hypocrisy forgotten (repressed) very quickly. But the computer in your subconscious mind forgets nothing. It records your spiritual profit and loss. The balance sheet reflects your present level of self-esteem--and sends you the information via your emotions.

— Nathaniel Branden

Never marry a person who is not a friend of your excitement.

— Nathaniel Branden

Of all the judgements we pass, none is as important as the one we pass on ourselves.

— Nathaniel Branden

Of all the judgments we pass in life, none is more important than the judgment we pass on ourselves.

— Nathaniel Branden

One of the great self-deceptions--and one of the great foolishness--is to tell yourself, Only I will know. Only you will know that you are a liar; only you will know you deal unethically with people who trust you; only you will know you have no intention of honoring your promise. Whose knowledge or judgment do you imagine is more important? It is precisely your own ego from which there is no escape.

— Nathaniel Branden

One of the hardest expressions of self-assertiveness is challenging your limiting beliefs.

— Nathaniel Branden

Our liabilities pose the problem of inadequacy; our assets, the challenge of responsibility. Our strengths or virtues can make us feel alone, alienated, cut off from the common herd, a target for envy and hostility, and our desire to belong can overcome any desire to actualize our highest potential.

— Nathaniel Branden