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Nathaniel Branden Quotes

If my aim is to prove I am enough, the project goes on to infinity—because the battle was already lost on the day I conceded the issue was debatable.

Nathaniel Branden

If my aim is to prove I am enough, the project goes on to infinity—because the battle was already lost on the day I conceded the issue was debatable.

In a world in which the total of human knowledge is doubling about every ten years, our security can rest only on our ability to learn.

Nathaniel Branden

In a world in which the total of human knowledge is doubling about every ten years, our security can rest only on our ability to learn.

Tags: knowledge, world, security, rest

About Author
Nathaniel Branden (born Nathan Blumenthal; April 9, 1930 – December 3, 2014) was a Canadian–American psychotherapist and writer known for his work in the psychology of self-esteem. A former associate and romantic partner of Ayn Rand, Branden also played a prominent role in the 1960s in promoting Rand's philosophy, Objectivism. Rand and Branden split acrimoniously in 1968, after which Branden focused on developing his own psychological theories and modes of therapy.

Live with integrity, respect the rights of other people, and follow your own bliss.

Nathaniel Branden

Live with integrity, respect the rights of other people, and follow your own bliss.

Tags: respect, integrity, people, live

Self-discipline is the ability to organize your behavior over time in the service of specific goals.

Nathaniel Branden

Self-discipline is the ability to organize your behavior over time in the service of specific goals.

Tags: discipline, health, life, mental health, productive, psychology, purpose, self esteem

We are parts of one universe, true enough. We stand within an almost infinite network of relationships. Yet each of us is a single point of consciousness, a unique event, a private, unrepeatable world...

Nathaniel Branden

We are parts of one universe, true enough. We stand within an almost infinite network of relationships. Yet each of us is a single point of consciousness, a unique event, a private, unrepeatable world...

Tags: humanity, individual, individuality, psychology, self esteem

The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.

Nathaniel Branden

The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.

Tags: change, acceptance, first step, step

The willingness to experience and accept our feelings carries no implication that emotions are to have the last word on what we do. I may not be in the mood to work today; I can acknowledge my feeling...

Nathaniel Branden

The willingness to experience and accept our feelings carries no implication that emotions are to have the last word on what we do. I may not be in the mood to work today; I can acknowledge my feeling...

It is humiliating to realize that when you drive yourself underground, when you fake who you are, often you do so for people you do not even like or respect.

Nathaniel Branden

It is humiliating to realize that when you drive yourself underground, when you fake who you are, often you do so for people you do not even like or respect.

Tags: hide, integrity, mask, psychology, self esteem

Do you want to be like Goethe or any of those so-called geniuses who marry a nothing hausfrau?

Nathaniel Branden

Do you want to be like Goethe or any of those so-called geniuses who marry a nothing hausfrau?

When we learn how to be in an intimate relationship without abandoning our sense of self, when we learn how to be kind without being self-sacrificing, when we learn how to cooperate with others withou...

Nathaniel Branden

When we learn how to be in an intimate relationship without abandoning our sense of self, when we learn how to be kind without being self-sacrificing, when we learn how to cooperate with others withou...

Chances are, when you were young, you were told, in effect, "Listen, kid, here is the news: life is not about you. Life is not about what you want. What you want is not important. Life is about doing...

Nathaniel Branden

Chances are, when you were young, you were told, in effect, "Listen, kid, here is the news: life is not about you. Life is not about what you want. What you want is not important. Life is about doing...

Tags: psychology, self esteem

It sounded, I told him, as if he had never learned to balance projecting goals into the future with appreciating and living in the present....To the extent that our goal is to "prove" ourselves or war...

Nathaniel Branden

It sounded, I told him, as if he had never learned to balance projecting goals into the future with appreciating and living in the present....To the extent that our goal is to "prove" ourselves or war...

Tags: anxiety, balance, self esteem

For the rational psychologically healthy man the desire for pleasure is the desire to celebrate his control over reality. For the neurotic the desire for pleasure is the desire to escape from reali...

Nathaniel Branden

For the rational psychologically healthy man the desire for pleasure is the desire to celebrate his control over reality. For the neurotic the desire for pleasure is the desire to escape from reali...

Tags: happiness

Tell me how a person judges his or her self-esteem, and I will tell you how that person operates at work, in love, in sex, in parenting, in every important aspect of existence - and how high he or she...

Nathaniel Branden

Tell me how a person judges his or her self-esteem, and I will tell you how that person operates at work, in love, in sex, in parenting, in every important aspect of existence - and how high he or she...

Tags: love, life, work

Never marry a person who is not a friend of your excitement.

Nathaniel Branden

Never marry a person who is not a friend of your excitement.

Tags: love, marriage, marriage advice, passion

Regardless of what we think we're teaching, we teach what we are.

Nathaniel Branden

Regardless of what we think we're teaching, we teach what we are.

To live consciously means to seek to be aware of everything that bears on our actions, purposes, values, and goals—to the best of our ability, whatever that ability may be—and to behave in accordance...

Nathaniel Branden

To live consciously means to seek to be aware of everything that bears on our actions, purposes, values, and goals—to the best of our ability, whatever that ability may be—and to behave in accordance...

The challenge for people today--and it is not and easy one--is to maintain high personal standards even while feeling that one is living in a moral sewer.

Nathaniel Branden

The challenge for people today--and it is not and easy one--is to maintain high personal standards even while feeling that one is living in a moral sewer.

Tags: evil, freedom, immorality, morality, psychology, self esteem, self knowledge, society, virtue

All positive interactions with other human beings involve, to some degree, the experience of visibility-- that is, the experience of being seen and understood.

Nathaniel Branden

All positive interactions with other human beings involve, to some degree, the experience of visibility-- that is, the experience of being seen and understood.

Tags: friendship, healthy, psychology, relationships, self esteem, self knowledge

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.

Nathaniel Branden

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.

Tags: respect, kindness, treat, generosity