11 Quotes About Self-Improvement that can Inspire the Changes You Want to See in Yourself
Self-improvement can be a touchy subject at times. If you think back to the “self-help” craze of the mid-80’s and early 90’s, because of the sheer volume of self-help material that exploded onto bookshelves across the country, people began to think that self-development was a joke. In fact, one of my favorite jokes of all time from Steven Wright was when he said, “I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, ‘Where’s the self-help section?’ She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.” The truth is, self-development is not just a passing fad. Being a better person for yourself and the people around you is a timeless endeavor. It is part of human nature to want to achieve more and be better. To emphasise my point, I’ve collected 11 of the best quotes from some of history’s most influential writers and personalities:
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ― Ernest Hemingway
“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” ― George Bernard Shaw
“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” ― C.S. Lewis
“Make the most of yourself….for that is all there is of you.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” ― William Faulkner
“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” ― Albert Einstein
“What we call our destiny is truly our character and that character can be altered. The knowledge that we are responsible for our actions and attitudes does not need to be discouraging, because it also means that we are free to change this destiny. One is not in bondage to the past, which has shaped our feelings, to race, inheritance, background. All this can be altered if we have the courage to examine how it formed us. We can alter the chemistry provided we have the courage to dissect the elements.” ― Anaïs Nin
“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” ― Jim Rohn
“When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.” ― Confucius
“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” ― Aldous Huxley
“How noble and good everyone could be if, every evening before falling asleep, they were to recall to their minds the events of the whole day and consider exactly what has been good and bad. Then without realizing it, you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day.” ― Anne Frank
