--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter what our achievements might be…" description: "\"No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments.\" — Eric Hoffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1847657.jpg" --- # No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of… ![“No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1847657.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1847657.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1847657.jpg) > “No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑esteem spikes rarely, often tied to specific achievements or moments. **In simple terms:** We feel good about ourselves only sometimes. Key Takeaway Seek consistent self‑validation beyond achievements. Themes self‑esteem achievement rarity psychology Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - career milestones - personal successes - daily reflections Key Concepts self‑concept validation Questions to Reflect On - What everyday practices boost steady self‑worth? - How can you celebrate small wins? A Different Perspective Reliance on rare moments can cause fragile confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Achievements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievements/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Rare moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rare-moments/) [Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments. We need people to bear witness against our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be-we-think-well-of-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-joseph-schwartz/think-little-goals-and-expect-little-achievements-think-big-goals-and/) [David Joseph Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-joseph-schwartz/) > [I think it's rare for anyone that a really accomplished, amazing director calls you up and says, 'I want to make a movie around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-duplass/i-think-it-s-rare-for-anyone-that-a-really-accomplished-amazing/) [Jay Duplass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-duplass/) > [“What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth could come by chance?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/what-can-be-more-foolish-than-to-think-that-all-this-rare-fabric-of/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth could come by chance, when all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/what-can-be-more-foolish-than-to-think-that-all-this-rare-fabric-of-2/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [And I think it's very rare to have good stories, well written comedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-marceau/and-i-think-it-s-very-rare-to-have-good-stories-well-written-comedies/) [Sophie Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-marceau/) > [When I take a role I wonder how I can use it to find out who I really am. I don't think I'm so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cohen/when-i-take-a-role-i-wonder-how-i-can-use-it-to-find-out-who-i-really/) [Scott Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cohen/) > [What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth could come by chance, when all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/what-can-be-more-foolish-than-to-think-that-all-this-rare-fabric-of-3/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [Well, I think first it was rare for me to do anything that had any kind of a romantic note to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/well-i-think-first-it-was-rare-for-me-to-do-anything-that-had-any/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [Being from the States, I think it's rare to make work about cultural or historical conflict that still reaches across party lines, quote unquote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-debose/being-from-the-states-i-think-it-s-rare-to-make-work-about-cultural/) [Ariana DeBose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-debose/) > [Social democrats are characteristically modest - a political quality whose virtues are overestimated. We need to apologise a little less for our shortcomings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/social-democrats-are-characteristically-modest-a-political-quality/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [The capacity for getting along with our neighbor depends to a large extent on the capacity for getting along with ourselves. The self-respecting individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-capacity-for-getting-along-with-our-neighbor-depends-to-a-large/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our achievements speak for themselves. What we have to keep track of are our failures, discouragements and doubts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-achievements-speak-for-themselves-what-we-have-to-keep-track-of-3/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-kennedy/in-those-rare-moments-when-such-a-person-comes-along-we-need-to-put/) [Caroline Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-kennedy/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-workman-of-today-works-every-day-in-his-life-at-the-same-tasks/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Hoffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be-we-think-well-of-ourselves-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achievement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be-we-think-well-of-ourselves-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1847657.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1847657.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1847657.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments.” — Eric Hoffer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eric Hoffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No matter what our achievements might...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be-we-think-well-of-ourselves-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be-we-think-well-of-ourselves-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```