Pride is founded not on the sense of happiness, but on the sense of power.
William HazlittRead
We can bear to be deprived of everything but our self-conceit.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of self-image and pride, suggesting that losing possessions is bearable, but losing self-esteem is not.
William Hazlitt highlights the human tendency to cling to self-conceit, or an inflated sense of self-worth, suggesting that it is the most enduring aspect of our identity. While material possessions can be taken away, our perception of ourselves and our pride are often what we fight hardest to protect, illustrating the deep connection between self-esteem and our overall well-being.
In practice
In a motivational speech about self-worth and resilience.
Pride is founded not on the sense of happiness, but on the sense of power.
The world loves to be amused by hollow professions, to be deceived by flattering appearances, to live in a state of hallucination; and can forgive everything but the plain, downright, simple, honest truth.
Our repugnance to death increases in proportion to our consciousness of having lived in vain.
There are few things in which we deceive ourselves more than in the esteem we profess to entertain for our firends. It is little better than a piece of quackery. The truth is, we think of them as we please, that is, as they please or displease us.
Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.
One is always more vexed at losing a game of any sort by a single hole or ace, than if one has never had a chance of winning it.
To reach me, you must move to me. Your attack offers me an opportunity to intercept you.
EACH DAY OF HUMAN life contains joy and anger, pain and pleasure, darkness and light, growth and decay. Each moment is etched with natureβs grand design-do not try to deny or oppose the cosmic order of things.
And certainly, the mistakes that we male and female mortals make when we have our own way might fairly raise some wonder that we are so fond of it.
Nothing is more durable than the dynasty of Doubt; for he reigns in the hearts of all his people, but gives satisfaction to none of them, and yet he is the only despot who can never die, while any of his subjects live.
When God measures a man he puts the tape around the heart, not the head.
Most people would trade everything they know, everyone they know- they'd trade it all to know they've been seen, and acknowledged, that they might even be remembered. We all know we die. We all know the world is too big for us to be significant. So all we have is the hope of being seen, or heard, even for a moment.
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