Quotes about Self

Much of the Soul they talk, but all awry; And in themselves seek virtue; and to themselves All glory arrogate, to God give none

Somebody once said that the biggest difference between you and God is that God doesn't think he's you. In pain, we get very clear about not being God.

Mortification is the soul's vigorous opposition to self, wherein sincerity is most evident.

There are two things that are suited to humble the souls of men, and they are, first, a due consideration of God, and then of themselves;—of God, in his greatness, glory, holiness, power, majesty, and authority; of ourselves, in our mean, abject, and sinful condition.

A man preacheth that sermon only well unto others which preacheth itself in his own soul.

Two things I recognize, O Lord, in myself: Nature, which Thou hast made; Sin, which I have added.

I was still searching for someone to blame for my suffering. I really wanted someone to transfer my hate to, so that I could stop hating myself.

The best thing about self-defense is knowing there is a self

Respect for self is the beginning of cultivating virtue in men and women.

Reformation of the world begins with reformation of self. We cannot hope to influence others in the direction of moral virtue unless we live lives of virtue. The example of our virtuous living will carry a greater influence than will all the preaching, postulating, and theorizing in which we might indulge. We cannot expect to lift others unless we are standing on higher ground.

The only gift is a portion of thyself.... it is a cold, lifeless business, when you go to the shops to buy me something which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith's.

Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armoury of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.