Quotes about Self-awareness

British writer G. K. Chesterton's reply to an invitation by the Times to write an essay on the subject "What's Wrong with the World?" Chesterton's response: Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely, G. K. Chesterton

I realize now that people are not thinking about you and me or caring what is said about us. They are thinking about themselves—before breakfast, after breakfast, and right on until ten minutes past midnight. They would be a thousand times more concerned about a slight headache of their own than they would about the news of your death or mine.

people you are talking to are a hundred times more interested in themselves and their wants and problems than they are in you and your problems.

Son, you are 1500 miles from home, and you don't feel any different, do you? I knew you wouldn't, because you took with you the one thing that is the cause of all your trouble, that is, yourself. There is nothing wrong with either your body or your mind. It is not the situations you have met that have thrown you; it is what you think of these situations. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." When you realize that, son, come home, for you will be cured.

I learned thirty years ago that it is foolish to scold. I have enough trouble overcoming my own limitations without fretting over the fact that God has not seen fit to distribute evenly the gift of intelligence.

Only themselves understand themselves and the like of themselves, As souls only understand souls.

I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don't believe I deserved my friends.

The earth remains jagged and broken only to him or her who remains jagged and broken.

Clear and sweet is my soul . . . . and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul. Lack

In all people I see myself, none more and not one barley-corn less, And the good or bad I say of myself I say of them.

As if any man really knew aught of my life, Why even I myself I often think know little or nothing of my real life, Only a few hints, a few diffused faint clews and indirections I seek for my own use to trace out here.)

I do not trouble my spirit to vindicate itself or be understood