Self Respect Quotes

“Many people lack the basic equipment to be in a relationship and there's nothing you can do to change it. You can't take a skunk and dip it in perfume and hope it becomes a puppy. Eventually, the perfume will wear off and you'll still have a skunk on your hands.”
― Sherry Argov, Why Men Love Bitches: From Doormat to Dreamgirl―A Woman's Guide to Holding Her Own in a Relationship

“If nothing else in this long and short life, let me be true to my conscience, to the dignity of my own heart. Let me act in a way that says, I have honored my spirit as truly as I have honored others'. Let me stand tall and rooted as a mountain in the face of a quaking world.”
― Jennifer DeLucy

“Having healthy boundaries not only requires being able to say “no”, but also being willing and able to enforce that “no” when necessary.”
― Jessica Moore

“When you stop respecting yourself, the world starts disrespecting you.”
― Sanu Sharma, अर्को देशमा [Arko Deshma]

“If You believe in yourself you can reach everything you want.”
― Kees Broos, Dutch Graphic Design: A Century

“One of the questions asked by al-Balkhi, and often repeated to this day, is this: Why do the children of Israel continue to suffer? My grandmother Dodo thought it was because the goyim were jealous. The seder for Passover (which is a shame-faced simulacrum of a Hellenic question-and-answer session, even including the wine) tells the children that it's one of those things that happens to every Jewish generation. After the Shoah or Endlösung or Holocaust, many rabbis tried to tell the survivors that the immolation had been a punishment for 'exile,' or for insufficient attention to the Covenant. This explanation was something of a flop with those whose parents or children had been the raw material for the 'proof,' so for a time the professional interpreters of god's will went decently quiet. This interval of ambivalence lasted until the war of 1967, when it was announced that the divine purpose could be discerned after all. How wrong, how foolish, to have announced its discovery prematurely! The exile and the Shoah could now both be understood, as part of a heavenly if somewhat roundabout scheme to recover the Western Wall in Jerusalem and other pieces of biblically mandated real estate.

I regard it as a matter of self-respect to spit in public on rationalizations of this kind. (They are almost as repellent, in their combination of arrogance, masochism, and affected false modesty, as Edith Stein's 'offer' of her life to expiate the regrettable unbelief in Jesus of her former fellow Jews.) The sage Jews are those who have put religion behind them and become in so many societies the leaven of the secular and the atheist.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Hitch 22: A Memoir

“The body is innocent. Deeply, beautifully, fundamentally innocent.”
― Rachel Hartman

“Dav­el­lon may be a vil­lage, but the Dav­el­lon House can be any­thing you make it. No­bil­ity has to start some­where. It might as well start with you. Let no­body look down on you, for what­ever rea­son, My Lord. Ti­tles are granted or in­her­ited, no­bil­ity isn't.

~Tenaxos I to Landar Parmingh, Baron Davellon”
― Andrew Ashling, The Invisible Hands - Part 1: Gambit

“Stuck in my own trap of writing about a nonsubject, I think I can defend my own self-respect, and also the integrity of a lost girl, by saying two things. First, the trivial doings of Paris Hilton are of no importance to me, or anyone else, and I should not be forced to contemplate them. Second, she should be left alone to lead such a life as has been left to her. If this seems paradoxical, then very well.”
― Christopher Hitchens

“We should wash our destiny the way we wash our body, and change life the way we change clothes – not to preserve life, as when we eat and sleep, but out of objective respect for ourselves, which is what personal hygiene is all about.”
― Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet: The Complete Edition

“Narcissism is not self-love. It's the opposite of that. It's a nagging horror that you are, deep down, unloveable. A narcissist needs the love, attention and admiration of others to survive because he or she cannot produce enough healthy self-respect to be at peace.”
― Deborah Orr, Motherwell: A Girlhood

“From beggar to thief is one step, but a step in two directions at the same time, for what a beggar loses in morality when he becomes a thief he regains in self-respect.”
― Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus

“Everything and anything we communicate to others, communicates to them, how to see us and treat us.”
― Miya Yamanouchi

“But for once, I’d listened to that little voice in my head that said You’re better than this. Hadn’t I been thinking about how empty my hook-ups left me? I deserved better. I deserved more. And I wouldn’t be getting it from Alec.”
― Eliot Grayson, Undercover

“You may like or dislike my way of life, that's a matter of the perfect indifference to me; you will have to treat me with respect if you want to know me”
― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, Vol 5 of 8

“Nobody can take away your self-respect except you.”
― Frank Sonnenberg, BECOME: Unleash the Power of Moral Character and Be Proud of the Life You Choose

“The days when he had taken insults passively had passed, as had the days when he would melt in tears. He had never understood what made the others do it, only that he was somehow apart from them, somehow differ- ent, and that he would never fit in. From the time Serena had first held him after it happened, when he

was only five, his mother had counseled patience. "Ignore them," she said. "Deny them the satisfaction of seeing you rise in anger." She too had suffered this way. "Pay no attention to them. They are only jealous of your noble birth." She had tried to soften their in- sults. "When they call you half-breed you must remem- ber what it really means, that you are the best of two worlds, the best of the French and the best of the Tuareg."

Her advice felt warm and wise while he was on her lap, but evaporated quickly in the schoolyard. His patience only drove his tormentors to greater creativity in their taunts, and then they accused him of cowardice, of being a sissy. If he cried it drove them to new heights of viciousness.

And then one day when Moussa was eight Henri had seen his bruised cheek and asked about it, and Moussa had poured out his sorrow and his dilemma.

"Your mother is right in her way," Henri agreed after listening, "but just now I think they need a good thrashing. You need to teach them a lesson. I wish it weren't so, but they respect only strength." After that Moussa tried hard not to forget his mother's advice, but he found that fists often worked better. At first he lost most of the fights, but a bloody nose from fighting back felt better to him than a bloody nose from doing nothing. And with practice, along with the instruction he received from his father and Gascon, he got better. Before long the students learned to taunt him at their own peril, for even if they might finally beat him, they would pay a heavy price.”
― David Ball, Empires of Sand by David Ball

“You know you've leveled up in self-respect when you choose to walk away. It's like hitting the next stage in a game—suddenly, you're stronger, wiser, and no longer willing to put up with nonsense. Walking away isn’t about giving up; it’s about knowing your worth and refusing to settle for less. So, take that stride with confidence because every step away from what doesn’t serve you is a step toward something better. Congrats, you've unlocked a new level of self-respect!”
― Life is Positive

“I don’t regret my past. I just regret the time I wasted with the wrong people. Life’s too short for bad company and useless drama. If only there was a refund policy on wasted time! But hey, even those detours taught valuable lessons, like how to spot a toxic person from a mile away. How to stay away from pessimists. So, here’s to ditching the energy vampires and spending time with people who actually matter and uplift. Let’s surround ourselves with good vibes only!”
― Life is Positive

“Give your Self-esteem a power-up! Start by celebrating your victories, big and small. Stand tall, embrace your quirks, and remember: you're a limited edition, not a mass-produced copy. Surround yourself with positive vibes, kick negative self-talk to the curb, and don't forget to give yourself a pep talk in the mirror every now and then.”
― Life is Positive

“Having self-respect and having an ego are two different things. An ego is all about trying to establish superiority over the other person, it’s about trying to show the other person that it is they that wield power and the other person should bow down to their whims.

Self-respect is different. It is about having a healthy self-image of yourself and being confident. It’s about thinking highly of yourself without thinking low of others. It’s about looking at yourself in the mirror and being proud of who you are, instead of being ashamed of what you are being forced to become”
― Anubhav Srivastava, UnLearn: A Practical Guide to Business and Life

“Confidence is like wearing a superhero cape under your everyday clothes. It's the secret weapon that makes you feel unstoppable, even on days when you're just winging it. So, rock that messy hair and embrace your awkward moments like they're the latest fashion trend. After all, confidence isn't just about knowing you can handle anything; it's about laughing in the face of challenges and saying, "Watch out, world, here I come!”
― Life is Positive

“Nothing is more important than self-respect.

Not money, not love, not your designation. If there is one thing that matters most in life in addition to mental peace, it is self-respect.
And frankly if you do not have self-respect, there is no way you can be happy in the first place, no matter how much money you make, what position you attain in life or whether you are with someone who claims to love you, because when you can’t respect yourself, there is absolutely no chance of peace in life.”
― Anubhav Srivastava, UnLearn: A Practical Guide to Business and Life

“Some people have been brainwashed with the idea that they should always be a people pleaser under all circumstances. They bend over backwards so many times and try so hard to win the respect of everyone else, that ultimately people only see them as soft targets that can be manipulated and used as per their wishes. And no, they are not respected. Respect is commanded, it can never be begged for.”
― Anubhav Srivastava, UnLearn: A Practical Guide to Business and Life

“Countless people, and not just women, men as well, stay in emotionally and physically abusive relationships, or in relationships where they are manipulated, taken for granted and demeaned at every single step. And yet they chose to accept their circumstances because they are either afraid of being alone or because they are expected to tolerate the abuse by society OR because they are so in love with the manipulative person that they seemed to have lost their identity.
They think that by choosing to accept that abuse and losing their identity, the other person will actually appreciate their loyalty and love them more, or eventually realize their mistake and change. But unfortunately, that never happens, and certainly never happens if you don’t take a stand and refuse to accept the abuse any further.
On the contrary, the person starts taking them for granted and is encouraged to make thing worse, because they think that no matter what happens, you are always going to be there and silently take all the crap they give you.”
― Anubhav Srivastava, UnLearn: A Practical Guide to Business and Life

“Self-love letters, the ultimate act of romance with yourself! Picture this: You, a cup of tea or coffee, and a pen poised to shower yourself with affectionate affirmations. Why is it important, you ask? It’s a fabulous exercise in self-awareness and mindfulness. By putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), you're taking the time to acknowledge your strengths, quirks, and everything in between. So go ahead and indulge in some shameless self-love letter writing.”
― Life is Positive

“Self-love isn't just about bubble baths and treating yourself – although those are great, too! It's about embracing your flaws, celebrating your victories, and being your own biggest cheerleader. So go ahead, give yourself a pat on the back, throw yourself a compliment or two, and remember that you're pretty darn amazing, flaws and all. After all, when you love yourself unconditionally, you become unstoppable.”
― Life is Positive

“Self-love is your VIP backstage pass to life's greatest show. It's like the glitter that makes your existence sparkle! When you truly love yourself, you're the star of your own story, and you don't let anyone else write your script. You become a magnet for positivity and good vibes, radiating confidence like a rockstar. Self-love isn't just a feeling; it's a whole concert of self-celebration, where you're the headliner! So, dance to your own beat, sing your own song!”
― Life is Positive

“When you do something bad there’s always one person who will know — you.”
― Frank Sonnenberg, BECOME: Unleash the Power of Moral Character and Be Proud of the Life You Choose

“To respect oneself is to be the master of one's emotions; it’s the steady hand that steers us through life's storms. With discipline as our compass, we navigate toward self-worth and fulfillment.”
― Dr Prem Jagyasi, Dr Prem's Guide - Wellness Tourism