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Center stage Quote by Henry Cloud

“Entitlement is a demand for special treatment. Instead of being grateful for ordinary, “good-enough” resources and situations, we demand the best. Here are a few examples of entitlement: feeling that I deserve a better lot in life than I received a sense that people need to make restitution for…” quote by Henry Cloud
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““Entitlement is a demand for special treatment. Instead of being grateful for ordinary, “good-enough” resources and situations, we demand the best. Here are a few examples of entitlement: feeling that I deserve a better lot in life than I received a sense that people need to make restitution for their sins against me a need for others to apologize for hurting me before I will get better an inability to feel loved when I am not front and center stage a sense of deprivation when I am not made special to others feeling that people don’t treat me with the respect I deserve Obviously, entitlement destroys safety, because no normal human can fulfill our demands! It’s impossible to love an entitled person, as some fault, empathic misstep, or insensitivity will send the entire relationship tumbling down. The entitled person must be listened to and understood perfectly at all times, or she feels injured and wounded. The end result is isolation. The antidote to entitlement is forgiveness in two directions. We need to ask forgiveness for our own imperfections. And we need to learn to forgive others for not meeting our outrageous expectations.””

Henry Cloud

About This Quote

Source Book: Boundaries by Henry Cloud & John Townsend, 1992

Entitlement is expecting special treatment beyond what is reasonably available, leading to resentment and isolation.

In simple terms: Expecting special treatment harms relationships.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate realistic expectations and forgiveness.

Themes

expectation relationships self-awareness forgiveness isolation

Mood

reflective serious

Type

advice psychological

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • workplace dynamics
  • family interactions

Key Concepts

psychology ego boundary setting

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can I recognize my own entitlement?
  • What steps foster realistic expectations?
A Different Perspective

Entitlement may stem from unmet emotional needs, making change challenging.

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