--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not selfish or narcissistic to love…" description: "\"It is not selfish or narcissistic to love yourself. It is your first and foremost responsibility.\" — Alan Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/alan-cohen-1112_firsts_it-is-not-selfish-or-narcissistic-to-lov_2380759.png" --- # It is not selfish or narcissistic to love yourself. It is… ![“It is not selfish or narcissistic to love yourself. It is your first and foremost responsibility.” quote by Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/alan-cohen-1112_firsts_it-is-not-selfish-or-narcissistic-to-lov_2380759.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/alan-cohen-1112_firsts_it-is-not-selfish-or-narcissistic-to-lov_2380759.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/alan-cohen-1112_firsts_it-is-not-selfish-or-narcissistic-to-lov_2380759.png) > “It is not selfish or narcissistic to love yourself. It is your first and foremost responsibility.” [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote asserts that loving oneself is not selfish but a fundamental duty, emphasizing self‑care as the basis for caring for others. **In simple terms:** Self‑love is a primary responsibility, not selfishness. Key Takeaway Practice self‑care first. Themes self‑esteem responsibility well‑being Mood encouraging introspective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - daily self‑affirmation - mental health routines - relationship building Key Concepts psychology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑love influence your treatment of others? - What obstacles prevent you from prioritizing yourself? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-yourself/) [Not selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-selfish/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [“Narcissistic love is riding on the rollecoaster of disaster filled with a heart full of tears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheree-gay/narcissistic-love-is-riding-on-the-rollecoaster-of-disaster-filled/) [Sheree' Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheree-gay/) > [“When the dust has settled years later, we might ask ourselves, “What was I thinking?” and the answer is usually: You weren’t. Psychologists call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/when-the-dust-has-settled-years-later-we-might-ask-ourselves-what-was/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“The narcissistic love match is inherently unstable. Any intrusion of reality can destabilize the relationship, leading to chronic or intermittent conflict, misery, trips to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-hotchkiss/the-narcissistic-love-match-is-inherently-unstable-any-intrusion-of/) [Sandy Hotchkiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-hotchkiss/) > [I don't think it's narcissistic at all to love yourself and believe in yourself. I think some people are really scared to do that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rodriguez/i-don-t-think-it-s-narcissistic-at-all-to-love-yourself-and-believe/) [Michelle Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rodriguez/) > [My hunch is that people often affiliate with causes online for selfish and narcissistic purposes. Sometimes, it may be as simple as trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/my-hunch-is-that-people-often-affiliate-with-causes-online-for/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [I know I'm missing something, but those who have children are missing what I get to do. And frankly, I'm probably missing more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-taymor/i-know-i-m-missing-something-but-those-who-have-children-are-missing/) [Julie Taymor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-taymor/) > [If you're not selfish enough to want to feel good, then you can't connect with the energy that is your Source which does always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/if-you-re-not-selfish-enough-to-want-to-feel-good-then-you-can-t/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [I'm a painter, that's what I love to do first and foremost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chali-2na/i-m-a-painter-that-s-what-i-love-to-do-first-and-foremost/) [Chali 2na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chali-2na/) > [Love is first and foremost exemplified by action - by practice - not solely by feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/love-is-first-and-foremost-exemplified-by-action-by-practice-not/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Of the five vital principles, Love is the foremost. It is Love that flows as the under-current for the other four values. How does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sathya-sai-baba/of-the-five-vital-principles-love-is-the-foremost-it-is-love-that/) [Sri Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sathya-sai-baba/) > [It is not selfish to be happy. It is your highest purpose. Your joy is the greatest contribution you can make to life on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/it-is-not-selfish-to-be-happy-it-is-your-highest-purpose-your-joy-is/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“To live true to the vision of the master, we must be as selfish, narcissistic, manipulative, driven, and creative in getting what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-bing/to-live-true-to-the-vision-of-the-master-we-must-be-as-selfish/) [Stanley Bing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-bing/) > [Just because you grew up with your daddy telling you that you're a princess, doesn't mean that you can expect a man to treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-because-you-grew-up-with-your-daddy-telling-you-that-you-re-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm an egotist, but I'm not selfish. There's a difference. I'm a neurotic, I guess. I can't stop thinking about myself. It isn't that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-m-an-egotist-but-i-m-not-selfish-there-s-a-difference-i-m-a/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Love is the key to the mystery. Love by its very nature is not selfish, but generous. It seeks not its own, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/love-is-the-key-to-the-mystery-love-by-its-very-nature-is-not-selfish/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More by Alan Cohen > [When you protect yourself from pain, be sure you do not protect yourself from love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-protect-yourself-from-pain-be-sure-you-do-not-protect/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Anyone in a state of seeking can never be happy. Only those who are constantly finding are fulfilled. And finding is not something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/anyone-in-a-state-of-seeking-can-never-be-happy-only-those-who-are/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“You cannot be other than you are. Thank God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/you-cannot-be-other-than-you-are-thank-god/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Evaluate every act by whether it brings you greater life, or deadens you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/evaluate-every-act-by-whether-it-brings-you-greater-life-or-deadens/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Put aside ambition for public recognition, and simply do what you do because it feels good inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/put-aside-ambition-for-public-recognition-and-simply-do-what-you-do/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“When you finally give up striving, you will be left with what you have been striving for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-finally-give-up-striving-you-will-be-left-with-what-you-have/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“newspaper ads for lost pets and earthquakes that soon follow. Other studies indicate a higher rate of last-minute cancellations for airplane flights that crash.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/newspaper-ads-for-lost-pets-and-earthquakes-that-soon-follow-other/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“Quit using your creative power to formulate questions. You can just as easily—more easily— use it to formulate answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/quit-using-your-creative-power-to-formulate-questions-you-can-just-as/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > ['How can I be more like you?' she asked the guru. 'The best way to be more like me is to be more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/how-can-i-be-more-like-you-she-asked-the-guru-the-best-way-to-be-more/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Turmoil is a call for awakening. Every challenge, great or small, is moving you to look deeper and draw forth the highest in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/turmoil-is-a-call-for-awakening-every-challenge-great-or-small-is/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [The difficulties of life do not keep you from greatness. They show you to its door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-difficulties-of-life-do-not-keep-you-from-greatness-they-show-you/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [What a doctor or healer tells you is a reflection of the beliefs and expectations you hold. 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If you can find a way to create joy, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/joy-is-the-wild-card-of-life-it-supersedes-every-other-formula-for/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) [Explore all 290 Alan Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## More Firsts quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. 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