Nathaniel Branden citations

“The greater a child’s terror, and the earlier it is experienced, the harder it becomes to develop a strong and healthy sense of self.”

“There is overwhelming evidence that the higher the level of self-esteem, the more likely one will be to treat others with respect, kindness, and generosity.”

“Self-esteem is the reputation we acquire with ourselves.”

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

“Ideas do matter and do have consequences.”

“It would be hard to name a more certain sign of poor self-esteem than the need to perceive some other group as inferior.”

“Rand always says, “Never pass up an opportunity to pass moral judgment.” Well I say: “Look for an opportunity to do something more useful instead.” Nobody was led to virtue by being told he was a scoundrel.”

“Pride is the emotional reward of achievement. It is not a vice to be overcome but a virtue to be attained.”

“Man's need of self-esteem entails the need for a sense of control over reality – but no control is possible in a universe which, by one's own concession, contains the supernatural, the miraculous and the causeless, a universe in which one is at the mercy of ghosts and demons, in which one must deal, not with the unknown, but with the unknowable; no control is possible if man proposes, but a ghost disposes; no control is possible if the universe is a haunted house.”