--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Narcissism is not about self love. It's a…" description: "\"Narcissism is not about self love. It's a clinical trait that belies a deep sense of emptiness, low self-esteem, emotional detachment, self-loathing, e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/drew-pinsky-4091_deep_narcissism-is-not-about-self-love-it-s-a_174846.png" --- # Narcissism is not about self love. It's a clinical trait… ![“Narcissism is not about self love. It's a clinical trait that belies a deep sense of emptiness, low self-esteem, emotional detachment, self-loathing, extreme problems with intimacy.” quote by Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/drew-pinsky-4091_deep_narcissism-is-not-about-self-love-it-s-a_174846.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/drew-pinsky-4091_deep_narcissism-is-not-about-self-love-it-s-a_174846.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/drew-pinsky-4091_deep_narcissism-is-not-about-self-love-it-s-a_174846.png) > “Narcissism is not about self love. It's a clinical trait that belies a deep sense of emptiness, low self-esteem, emotional detachment, self-loathing, extreme problems with intimacy.” [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Narcissism masks deep emptiness and low self‑esteem, leading to emotional detachment and intimacy issues. **In simple terms:** Narcissism hides inner emptiness and relational problems. Key Takeaway Address underlying emptiness to heal narcissistic traits. Themes psychology self‑image emotional health relationships intimacy Mood reflective somber hopeful Type clinical educational therapeutic When to use this quote - therapy sessions - self‑reflection - support groups - relationship counseling Key Concepts defense mechanisms self‑esteem attachment theory Questions to Reflect On - What inner void might be driving self‑obsession? - How can empathy be cultivated in narcissistic patterns? A Different Perspective Treatment is challenging because denial often blocks insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Narcissism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissism/) [Narcissist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissist/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) ## Related quotes > [I am a recovering narcissist. I thought narcissism was about self-love till someone told me there is a flip side to it. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-levine/i-am-a-recovering-narcissist-i-thought-narcissism-was-about-self-love/) [Emily Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-levine/) > [I thought narcissism was about self-love till someone told me there is a flip side to it... It is unrequited self-love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-levine/i-thought-narcissism-was-about-self-love-till-someone-told-me-there/) [Emily Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-levine/) > [Narcissism and self-deception are survival mechanisms without which many of us might just jump off a bridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/narcissism-and-self-deception-are-survival-mechanisms-without-which/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [“You are not a god, though you are hostile as a god, inhospitable and anonymous as a metropolis, your grey and single- minded industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-heiti/you-are-not-a-god-though-you-are-hostile-as-a-god-inhospitable-and/) [Warren Heiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-heiti/) > [I think a lot of self-importance is a product of fear. And fear, living in sort of an un-self-examined fear-based life, tends to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-think-a-lot-of-self-importance-is-a-product-of-fear-and-fear-living/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I'm in a business that invites narcissism, self-involvement, and egos being blown out of proportion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/i-m-in-a-business-that-invites-narcissism-self-involvement-and-egos/) [Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/) > [Narcissism is the result of longstanding behavioral patterns that reflect fixed brain functioning. It requires a lot of motivation to change these patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/narcissism-is-the-result-of-longstanding-behavioral-patterns-that/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [Obedience is detachment from the self. This is the most radical detachment of all. But what is the self? 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Ironically, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-engel/there-came-a-time-in-my-life-when-i-had-to-admit-to-myself-that-i/) [Beverly Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-engel/) > [Withhold admiration from a narcissist and be disliked. Give it and be treated with indifference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/withhold-admiration-from-a-narcissist-and-be-disliked-give-it-and-be/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The whole narcissism and echo syndrome is usually the result of early childhood training. Those are very hard habits for anyone to break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrill-markoe/the-whole-narcissism-and-echo-syndrome-is-usually-the-result-of-early/) [Merrill Markoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrill-markoe/) ## More by Drew Pinsky > [An Internet 'relationship' doesn't have to be catastrophically harmful to be inappropriate. Hurtful is bad enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/an-internet-relationship-doesn-t-have-to-be-catastrophically-harmful/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [Trauma super charges addiction and makes it really bad. It doesn't necessarily cause it, though it can trigger it. It's not necessarily the issue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/trauma-super-charges-addiction-and-makes-it-really-bad-it-doesn-t/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [The term 'doctor' has been so abused lately! I didn't live in a hospital for 10 years so that term could be bastardized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/the-term-doctor-has-been-so-abused-lately-i-didn-t-live-in-a-hospital/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [Particularly women need to pay attention to what is unique to their own personal biology and emotional systems, and not deny it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/particularly-women-need-to-pay-attention-to-what-is-unique-to-their/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [Every person is highly individualized so if a person is seriously concerned, then they first need to get a medical evaluation and make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/every-person-is-highly-individualized-so-if-a-person-is-seriously/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [All medicine is gradations and differences and nuances. 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