--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's impossible to feel good about…" description: "\"It's impossible to feel good about yourself if you are doing things that you aren't proud of. . . . It's essential that you . . . [do] things you can r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/ellen-bass-18832_about-yourself_it-s-impossible-to-feel-good-about-yours_2852059.jpg" --- # It's impossible to feel good about yourself if you are… ![“It's impossible to feel good about yourself if you are doing things that you aren't proud of. . . . It's essential that you . . . [do] things you can respect and admire.” quote by Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/ellen-bass-18832_about-yourself_it-s-impossible-to-feel-good-about-yours_2852059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/ellen-bass-18832_about-yourself_it-s-impossible-to-feel-good-about-yours_2852059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/ellen-bass-18832_about-yourself_it-s-impossible-to-feel-good-about-yours_2852059.jpg) > “It's impossible to feel good about yourself if you are doing things that you aren't proud of. . . . It's essential that you . . . \[do\] things you can respect and admire.” [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-respect requires aligning actions with personal values; pride in deeds fuels wellbeing. **In simple terms:** Do things you respect to feel good about yourself. Key Takeaway Act with integrity and pride. Themes self-worth integrity pride wellbeing Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - relationships - personal projects - daily habits Key Concepts moral psychology self-concept Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take to align with your values? - How does pride affect your mental health? A Different Perspective Changing habits can be difficult and may conflict with external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about-yourself/) [Admire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire/) [Aren Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aren-proud-1322935/) [Doing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-things/) [Essentials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentials/) [Feel good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-good/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Respect Admire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-admire-374450/) [Things Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-respect-1649399/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) ## Related quotes > [A passionate belief in your business and personal objectives can make all the difference between success and failure. If you aren't proud of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/a-passionate-belief-in-your-business-and-personal-objectives-can-make/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [ For them \[LGBT group\], language has to say exactly what it means. "Why aren't you proud of being gay?" they wanted to know. "Why… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/for-them-lgbt-group-language-has-to-say-exactly-what-it-means-why/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [Shame on those artists who aren't proud of their achievements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/shame-on-those-artists-who-aren-t-proud-of-their-achievements/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [“Good...if you've done things you aren't proud of. It means you have a conscience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/good-if-you-ve-done-things-you-aren-t-proud-of-it-means-you-have-a/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“If the vulnerable aren't also proud, they are crushed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/if-the-vulnerable-aren-t-also-proud-they-are-crushed/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [We’ve all done stuff we aren’t proud of. If you knew…” He shook his head. “The point is, I don’t know why you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/we-ve-all-done-stuff-we-aren-t-proud-of-if-you-knew-he-shook-his-head/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [“It’s always our mistakes, the things we aren’t proud of, that are the first ones to stand up, ready to be counted. That’s human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-mckinley/it-s-always-our-mistakes-the-things-we-aren-t-proud-of-that-are-the/) [Brooke McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-mckinley/) > [“Nothing in society lasts forever, so every living things should respect their destiny."”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saaif-alam/nothing-in-society-lasts-forever-so-every-living-things-should/) [Saaif Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saaif-alam/) > [I don't want to ever say to somebody, 'You don't have to see it. It's not good.' I'm done with that. I'd love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-hahn/i-don-t-want-to-ever-say-to-somebody-you-don-t-have-to-see-it-it-s/) [Kathryn Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-hahn/) > [“I asked her why doesn't she buy a nicer car and she said she doesn't need nice things, she just needs her own things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cheng/i-asked-her-why-doesn-t-she-buy-a-nicer-car-and-she-said-she-doesn-t/) [Jack Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-cheng/) > [It's one of the things I respect about Time Warner and Turner: their understanding of CNN's independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/it-s-one-of-the-things-i-respect-about-time-warner-and-turner-their/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [“I find blow jobs to be highly respectable. In fact, I can’t think of many things I respect more than your lips around my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-m-orgeron/i-find-blow-jobs-to-be-highly-respectable-in-fact-i-can-t-think-of/) [Heather M. Orgeron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-m-orgeron/) > [Mourinho is his own man, he has his own way of doing things and you have to respect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/mourinho-is-his-own-man-he-has-his-own-way-of-doing-things-and-you/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [“You've never needed anyone to fight your battles, Catalina. That's one of the things I respect the most about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-armas-the-spanish-love-deception/you-ve-never-needed-anyone-to-fight-your-battles-catalina-that-s-one/) [Elena Armas, The Spanish Love Deception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-armas-the-spanish-love-deception/) > [When people criticize me for not having any respect for existing structures and institutions, I protest. I say I give institutions and structures and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/when-people-criticize-me-for-not-having-any-respect-for-existing/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) ## More by Ellen Bass > [“In spite of the horror, in spite of the tragedy, in spite of the weeks of sleepless nights, I'm finally alive. 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/) > [Garrison Keillor read several of my poems on 'The Writer's Almanac' and I've heard from listeners nationally and internationally. That's one of the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/garrison-keillor-read-several-of-my-poems-on-the-writer-s-almanac-and/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [“If You Knew What if you knew you'd be the last to touch someone? 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To and from school in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/dead-butterfly-by-ellen-bass-for-months-my-daughter-carried-a-dead/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [If you’ve managed to do one good thing, the ocean doesn’t care. But when Newton’s apple fell toward the earth, the earth, ever so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/if-you-ve-managed-to-do-one-good-thing-the-ocean-doesn-t-care-but/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [There is a comfort in knowing that you don’t have to pretend anymore, that you are going to do everything within your power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/there-is-a-comfort-in-knowing-that-you-don-t-have-to-pretend-anymore/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [ Visualizing how you want to be is \[an\] effective way to move toward your goal. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/visualizing-how-you-want-to-be-is-an-effective-way-to-move-toward/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [“Healing was a terrifying and painful experience and my life was as full of struggle and heartache as it had always been. Several years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/healing-was-a-terrifying-and-painful-experience-and-my-life-was-as/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [“The World Has Need Of You” everything here seems to need us —Rainer Maria Rilke I can hardly imagine it as I walk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/the-world-has-need-of-you-everything-here-seems-to-need-us-rainer/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [Exercise stimulates your circulation, massages your internal organs, stretches and strengthens your muscles, and energizes you. Exercise is also a great way to discharge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/exercise-stimulates-your-circulation-massages-your-internal-organs/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [I wanted to be a writer since I was in high school, but I never thought it was possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-since-i-was-in-high-school-but-i-never/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [Your wallet will be stolen, you'll get fat, slip on the bathroom tiles of a foreign hotel and crack your hip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/your-wallet-will-be-stolen-you-ll-get-fat-slip-on-the-bathroom-tiles/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [What would people look like if we could see them as they are, soaked in honey, stung and swollen, reckless, pinned against time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/what-would-people-look-like-if-we-could-see-them-as-they-are-soaked/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) [Explore all 34 Ellen Bass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) ## More About yourself quotes > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/if-you-can-t-love-yourself-how-in-the-hell-you-gonna-love-somebody/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. If I tell you a racist or dirty joke and you laugh, you're telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-are-in-denial-all-the-time-hiding-things-if-i-tell-you-a/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [Change your thoughts, change your life. —LAO TZU When I was fighting depression, I remember hearing this expression and not understanding it at first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/change-your-thoughts-change-your-life-lao-tzu-when-i-was-fighting/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Dreams really tell you about yourself more than anything else in this world could ever tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/dreams-really-tell-you-about-yourself-more-than-anything-else-in-this/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [Celebrate all the things you don't like about yourself. love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/celebrate-all-the-things-you-don-t-like-about-yourself-love-yourself/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Start enjoying the things you like about yourself, and if there are things you want to change, either get to work on it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/start-enjoying-the-things-you-like-about-yourself-and-if-there-are/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [Always be yourself. There's only one you. You should embrace anything that you don't like about yourself because that's individual and that's you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesy-nelson/always-be-yourself-there-s-only-one-you-you-should-embrace-anything/) [Jesy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesy-nelson/) > [It's too distracting to read about yourself. You want to be perfect and you want everyone to love you, and that's never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/it-s-too-distracting-to-read-about-yourself-you-want-to-be-perfect/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-want-to-know-how-to-make-people-shun-you-and-laugh-at-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [The only thing a master can teach is how to learn about yourself. There are no secrets. They are only techniques to waken yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/the-only-thing-a-master-can-teach-is-how-to-learn-about-yourself/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I don't want to sell myself short. You hurt your spouse, not so much by the infidelity, but by the negative feelings about yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/i-don-t-want-to-sell-myself-short-you-hurt-your-spouse-not-so-much-by/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [A stranger can see in an instant something in you that you might spend years learning about yourself. How awful we all are when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-elliott/a-stranger-can-see-in-an-instant-something-in-you-that-you-might/) [Stephen Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-elliott/) > [Knowing is the most profound kind of love, giving someone the gift of knowledge about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-norman/knowing-is-the-most-profound-kind-of-love-giving-someone-the-gift-of/) [Marsha Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-norman/) > [Start telling the truth now and never stop. Begin by telling the truth to yourself about yourself. Then tell the truth to yourself about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/start-telling-the-truth-now-and-never-stop-begin-by-telling-the-truth/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) [Browse all 770 About yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's impossible to feel good about yourself if you are doing things that you aren't proud of. . . . It's essential that you . . . 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