Men take on the nature and the habits and the power of thought of those with whom they associate in a spirit of sympathy and harmony.
Napoleon HillRead
Close friends and relatives, while not meaning to do so, often handicap on through 'opinions' and sometimes though ridicule, which is meant to be humorous. Thousands of men and women carry inferiority complexes with them all through life, because some well-meaning, but ignorant person destroyed their confidence through opinions or ridicule
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often undermine others' confidence with their opinions and jokes, unintentionally causing lasting emotional harm.
In this quote, Napoleon Hill highlights the detrimental impact of unsolicited opinions and humor on individuals' self-esteem. He emphasizes that close friends and family, although well-meaning, can inadvertently inflict emotional wounds through ridicule or negative feedback, leading to long-lasting inferiority complexes that may hinder personal development throughout life.
Themes
ConfidenceRidiculeOpinionsSelf-EsteemRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
In a support group discussion about self-confidence issues.
More from Napoleon Hill
All quotes →Nature yields her most profound secrets to the person who is determined to uncover them.
Napoleon HillRead
Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true.
Napoleon HillRead
One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.
Napoleon HillRead
Let nobody bribe you away from being yourself.
Napoleon HillRead
Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat. Only by doing so can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a burning desire to win - essential to success.
Napoleon HillRead
Similar quotes
It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.
William BlakeRead
Plant and your spouse plants with you; weed and you weed alone.
Jean-Jacques RousseauRead
Nothing haunts us like the things we don't say.
Mitch AlbomRead
Lord, protect me from my friends; I can take care of my enemies.
Robert GreeneRead
Laila has moved on. Because in the end she knows that’s all she can do. That and hope.
Khaled HosseiniRead
And sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to describe them in.
Jane AustenRead