“The largest part of what we call ‘personality’ is determined by how we’ve opted to defend ourselves against anxiety and sadness.”
"Rather than struggling to become bigger fish, we might concentrate our energies on finding smaller ponds or smaller species to swim with, so our own size will trouble us less."
- Alain de Botton
Balance
"A ‘good job’ can be both practically attractive while still not good enough to devote your entire life to."
- Alain de Botton
Balance
"Feeling lost, crazy and desperate belongs to a good life as much as optimism, certainty and reason."
- Alain de Botton
Balance
"Don't despair: despair suggests you are in total control and know what is coming. You don't – surrender to events with hope."
- Alain de Botton
Hope
"If we are not regularly deeply embarrassed by who we are, the journey to self-knowledge hasn’t begun."
- Alain de Botton
Self-awareness
"Beauty is not about physical perfection, but about authenticity and confidence."
- Beauty and the Beast
Self-awareness
"Beauty is found in the unique qualities that make us who we are."
- Beauty and the Beast
Self-awareness
"I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific."
- Lily Tomlin
Self-awareness
"Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears."
- Laird Hamilton
Self-awareness
"True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less."
Self-awareness