--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-esteem is reliance on one's power to…" description: "\"Self-esteem is reliance on one's power to think... The man of authentic self-confidence is the man who relies on the judgment of his own mind.\" — Ayn Rand" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ayn-rand-59_authentic-self_self-esteem-is-reliance-on-one-s-power-t_2030026.jpg" --- # Self-esteem is reliance on one's power to think... The man… ![“Self-esteem is reliance on one's power to think... The man of authentic self-confidence is the man who relies on the judgment of his own mind.” quote by Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ayn-rand-59_authentic-self_self-esteem-is-reliance-on-one-s-power-t_2030026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ayn-rand-59_authentic-self_self-esteem-is-reliance-on-one-s-power-t_2030026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ayn-rand-59_authentic-self_self-esteem-is-reliance-on-one-s-power-t_2030026.jpg) > “Self-esteem is reliance on one's power to think... The man of authentic self-confidence is the man who relies on the judgment of his own mind.” [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True confidence comes from trusting one's own reasoning rather than external approval. **In simple terms:** Self‑trust builds real confidence. Key Takeaway Rely on your own judgment. Themes self‑esteem confidence individualism Mood determined confident Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - making personal decisions - standing up for ideas - overcoming self‑doubt Key Concepts philosophy objectivism autonomy Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust your own judgment? - When should you seek others' input? A Different Perspective May ignore valuable external feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authentic self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic-self/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The man of authentic self-confidence is the man who relies on the judgment of his own mind. Such a man is not malleable; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-man-of-authentic-self-confidence-is-the-man-who-relies-on-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Self-esteem is reliance on one's power to think. It cannot be replaced by one's power to deceive. The self-confidence of a scientist and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/self-esteem-is-reliance-on-one-s-power-to-think-it-cannot-be-replaced/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Our self-respect tracks our choices. Every time we act in harmony with our authentic self and our heart, we earn our respect. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-coppersmith/our-self-respect-tracks-our-choices-every-time-we-act-in-harmony-with/) Don Coppersmith > [“Silly…but the mere issuing of a command always inspires confidence. It doesn't matter whether it is a necessary command, or even a correct one…it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphrey-cobb/silly-but-the-mere-issuing-of-a-command-always-inspires-confidence-it/) [Humphrey Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphrey-cobb/) > [There is only one source of authentic self-confidence: reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-is-only-one-source-of-authentic-self-confidence-reason/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star self-reliance, faith, honesty and industry. Don't take too much advice -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-porter/rely-on-your-own-strength-of-body-and-soul-take-for-your-star-self/) [Noah Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-porter/) > [ \[I\]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould be a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-n-great-britain-it-is-said-that-their-constitution-relies-on-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“If you don’t leave your job, your job will leave you someday”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-you-don-t-leave-your-job-your-job-will-leave-you-someday/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Self-confidence without self-reliance is as useless as a cooking recipe without food. Self-confidence sees the possibilities of the individual; self-reliance realizes them. Self-confidence sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-george-jordan/self-confidence-without-self-reliance-is-as-useless-as-a-cooking/) [William George Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-george-jordan/) > [Self-esteem is reliance on ones power to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/self-esteem-is-reliance-on-ones-power-to-think/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Credit . . . is the only enduring testimonial to man's confidence in man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blish/credit-is-the-only-enduring-testimonial-to-man-s-confidence-in-man/) [James Blish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blish/) > [I haven't a particle of confidence in a man who has no redeeming petty vices whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-haven-t-a-particle-of-confidence-in-a-man-who-has-no-redeeming/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-questions-of-power-let-no-more-be-heard-of-confidence-in-man-but/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Surely modesty never hurt any cause; and the confidence of man seems to me to be much like the wrath of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/surely-modesty-never-hurt-any-cause-and-the-confidence-of-man-seems/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [“He had the confidence of a man who had never been wounded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-had-the-confidence-of-a-man-who-had-never-been-wounded/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## More by Ayn Rand > [There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-are-no-white-lies-there-is-only-the-blackest-of-destruction-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [She watched the prairies the rivers, the towns slipping past at an untouchable distance below - and she noted that the sense of detachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-watched-the-prairies-the-rivers-the-towns-slipping-past-at-an/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“This was reality, she thought, this sense of clear outlines, of purpose, of lightness, of hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-was-reality-she-thought-this-sense-of-clear-outlines-of-purpose/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [A “collective” mind does not exist. It is merely the sum of endless numbers of individual minds. If we have an endless number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-collective-mind-does-not-exist-it-is-merely-the-sum-of-endless/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“She moved her hand and let it rest against his. He did not withdraw his fingers and he did not pretend indifference. 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She thought: To find a feeling that would hold, as their sum, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-was-still-one-response-the-greatest-that-she-had-missed-she/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Inflation is not caused by the actions of private citizens, but by the government: by an artificial expansion of the money supply required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/inflation-is-not-caused-by-the-actions-of-private-citizens-but-by-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“We are fornicating in the sight of six billion people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/we-are-fornicating-in-the-sight-of-six-billion-people/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“She was fifteen when it occurred to her for the first time that women did not run railroads and that people might object. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-was-fifteen-when-it-occurred-to-her-for-the-first-time-that-women/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Fransisco, you're some kind of very high nobility, aren't you?" He answered, "Not yet. The reason my family has lasted for such a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/fransisco-you-re-some-kind-of-very-high-nobility-aren-t-you-he/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Have you felt it too? Have you seen how your best friends love everything about you- except the things that count? And your most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/have-you-felt-it-too-have-you-seen-how-your-best-friends-love/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Every coercive monopoly was created by government intervention into the economy: by special privileges, such as franchises or subsidies, which closed the entry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/every-coercive-monopoly-was-created-by-government-intervention-into/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We are all brothers under the skin - and I, for one, would be willing to skin humanity to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/we-are-all-brothers-under-the-skin-and-i-for-one-would-be-willing-to/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) [Explore all 1,777 Ayn Rand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More Authentic self quotes > [Sometimes being your most authentic self involves accepting others for who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-the-drag-queen/sometimes-being-your-most-authentic-self-involves-accepting-others/) [Bob the Drag Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-the-drag-queen/) > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, focus your energy on what you can create.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/instead-of-worrying-about-what-you-cannot-control-focus-your-energy/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [“The biggest mistake people make when trying to be authentic is just that: they try. 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I'm not pretending.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/in-spite-of-the-horror-in-spite-of-the-tragedy-in-spite-of-the-weeks/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [I feel inauthentic at a party. ... Going to a party is a 'low' activity - the authentic self is compromised, fragmented - one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/i-feel-inauthentic-at-a-party-going-to-a-party-is-a-low-activity-the/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [I was raised by a woman who was her true and authentic self. 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