Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

I am never more myself than in my self-betrayals.

Once, in a dry season, I wrote in large letters across two pages of a notebook that innocence ends when one is stripped of the delusion that one likes oneself. Although now, some years later, I marvel that a mind on the outs with itself should have nonetheless made painstaking record of its every tremor, I recall with embarrassing clarity the flavor of those particular ashes. It was a matter of misplaced self-respect.

The primary cause of disorder in ourselves is the seeking of reality promised by another

I've always been at war with myself, for right or wrong. I don't know how to explain it more. It's universal. Some people are better at dealing with it, and they sleep with no pain - not pain, arguments. I've grown quite comfortable with being at war.

jealousy is the direct result of self-betrayal.

I am a strange compound of weakness and resolution! However, if I must suffer, I will endeavour to suffer in silence. There is certainly a great defect in my mind my wayward heart creates its own misery Why I am made thus I cannot tell; and, till I can form some idea of the whole of my existence, I must be content to weep and dance like a child long for a toy, and be tired of it as soon as I get it.

Men are inconsolable concerning the treachery of their friends or the deceptions of their enemies; and yet they are often very highly satisfied to be both deceived and betrayed by their own selves.

If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us.

You can't know your real mind as long as you deceive yourself.

Every man is crucified upon the cross of himself.

We all have our inner demons.

I have no desire to look at myself.

People only hate what they see in themselves.

I have my moments. Ever since I was a boy, I never was someone who was at ease with happiness. Too often I embrace introspection and self-doubt. I wish I could embrace the good things.

Your best friend and worst enemy are both in this room right now. It's not your neighbor right or left - and it's not God or the devil - it's you.

I enjoy playing characters who are struggling, particularly with themselves.

I love playing women, and I think that this is a throughline to a lot of the characters I've played - they all have this aspect of being wronged. And I think, a lot of the time, the characters are actually wronged by themselves, and they find someone else to blame it on.

I don't get along much with myself.

I can know what Brian Cage is doing before he's doing it because he's doing me. I've been facing the man in the mirror my entire life. That's been my hardest battle is the one where it's me versus me.

When you're living a lie, the scariest thing is to be alone with your thoughts.

It's not always about external problems. It can also come from within, and it can happen to everyone, not only young girls but also boys.

The person you call an enemy is an exaggerated aspect of your own shadow self.

I have never met a man who has given me as much trouble as myself.

I wonder how it is that I’m fooling so many people, I’m doing one of the most stupid things in the world…and people seem to be falling for it.

Your enemy is still yourself. You don't have enemies. They may be self-styled. I have plenty of self-styled enemies. I don't wish them harm.