--- 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. We need people to bear witness against our inner judge, who ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1332054.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. We need people to bear witness against our inner judge, who keeps book on our shortcomings and transgressions. We need people to convince us that we are not as bad as we think we are.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1332054.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1332054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/eric-hoffer-343_achievement_no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be_1332054.jpg) > “No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments. We need people to bear witness against our inner judge, who keeps book on our shortcomings and transgressions. We need people to convince us that we are not as bad as we think we are.” [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. We only feel good about ourselves when others affirm us, countering our harsh self‑judgment. **In simple terms:** We need others to validate us. Key Takeaway Seek supportive feedback. Themes self‑esteem validation inner critic Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - team meetings - friend gatherings - performance reviews Key Concepts social affirmation psychology self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - Who can you ask for honest encouragement? - How does external validation affect your confidence? A Different Perspective Relying on others can create dependency and reduce self‑reliance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Achievements Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievements-think-2400025/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Convince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convince/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rare moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rare-moments/) [Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings/) [Shortcomings Transgressions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings-transgressions-4472545/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Transgression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transgression/) [Transgressions Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transgressions-need-4472544/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness/) [Witness Inner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness-inner-4472546/) ## Related quotes > [No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/no-matter-what-our-achievements-might-be-we-think-well-of-ourselves-2/) [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/) > [“Basil flushed and made a poor pass. He had been called by a nickname. It was a poor makeshift, but it was something more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/basil-flushed-and-made-a-poor-pass-he-had-been-called-by-a-nickname/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [It isn't given to us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-isn-t-given-to-us-to-know-those-rare-moments-when-people-are-wide/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“I should like to have friends, I confess. I do not suppose I ever shall. But there have been moments when I have realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-should-like-to-have-friends-i-confess-i-do-not-suppose-i-ever-shall/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“This is one of those rare moments when, while doing that which it is one's duty to do, one feels something which disconcerts one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/this-is-one-of-those-rare-moments-when-while-doing-that-which-it-is/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [You guys didn't really think you could go off on a party weekend without me, did you? Especially here of all places—" He froze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-guys-didn-t-really-think-you-could-go-off-on-a-party-weekend/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Stewart loves me with a tiger’s intensity, his need taking my breath away, his confidence in our relationship strong enough to not be bothered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-torre/stewart-loves-me-with-a-tiger-s-intensity-his-need-taking-my-breath/) [Alessandra Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-torre/) > [In rare moments of deep play, we can lay aside our sense of self, shed time's continuum, ignore pain, and sit quietly in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/in-rare-moments-of-deep-play-we-can-lay-aside-our-sense-of-self-shed/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [There can be moments onstage - but sometimes in a movie, too - where you just feel you're in a golden space. You're in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-broderick/there-can-be-moments-onstage-but-sometimes-in-a-movie-too-where-you/) [Matthew Broderick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-broderick/) > [In some situations I was difficult, in odd moments impossible, in rare moments loathsome, but at my best unapproachably great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/in-some-situations-i-was-difficult-in-odd-moments-impossible-in-rare/) [Oscar Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-levant/) > [The rare moment is not the moment when there is something worth looking at, but the moment when we are capable of seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/the-rare-moment-is-not-the-moment-when-there-is-something-worth/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [She opened her mouth but did not immediately speak, and I felt, simultaneously, the impulse to coax the words from her and the impulse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/she-opened-her-mouth-but-did-not-immediately-speak-and-i-felt/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. We need people to bear witness against our inner judge, who keeps book on our shortcomings and transgressions. 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